Ho Chi Minh City Club wins the opening match of the National Cup

Ba Ria - Vung Tau Club, after changing its name to Ho Chi Minh City Club, won Dong Thap in the earliest match of the 2025-2026 National Cup qualifying round.

The Navy team celebrates a goal for Ho Chi Minh City Club - Photo: HCMFC

On the afternoon of September 12, Ho Chi Minh City Club (formerly known as Ba Ria - Vung Tau Club) beat Dong Thap 1-0 at Ba Ria Stadium, in the qualifying round of the 2025-2026 National Cup.

With home field advantage and a better squad, Ho Chi Minh City FC took the initiative to attack from the start. Meanwhile, the away team Dong Thap mainly defended and played very tightly, making Ho Chi Minh City FC unable to penetrate.

The home team's attempts to push the ball out to the sidelines and then dribble the ball into the box were quite simple, so they were easily cleared by Dong Thap Club's defense or could not create any breakthroughs.

Stuck, coach Nguyen Minh Phuong's team chose to shoot from afar but were unsuccessful. The clearest scoring opportunity for Ho Chi Minh City FC came in the 44th minute, but To Phuong Thinh, unmarked, shot wide.

No goals were scored, but in the first half there were 3 yellow cards for Dong Thap players after fierce tackles.

Ho Chi Minh City Club (red shirt) in the match against Dong Thap in the 2025-2026 National Cup - Photo: HCMFC

In the first minutes of the second half, both teams had dangerous attacks.

In the 50th minute, To Phuong Thinh's shot bounced off a Dong Thap defender's foot and changed direction, going wide of the post. Six minutes later, Duy Bao's long-range shot was blocked by Thanh Thang, but Huu Khoi rushed in and kicked the rebound over the bar.

The turning point of the match came in the 60th minute, when Doan Hai Quan crossed the ball from the right wing. The ball curved into the far corner of the goal while goalkeeper Thanh Nha and Dong Thap defenders hesitated, helping Ho Chi Minh City Club open the score.

Conceding the goal, Dong Thap FC immediately raised their formation to find an equalizer. Meanwhile, Ho Chi Minh City FC retreated deeper and deeper to defend to preserve the goal. Therefore, despite their efforts to attack, Coach Phan Thanh Binh's team was still helpless and had to accept defeat.

Thus, Ho Chi Minh City Club will face Ho Chi Minh City Police Club at Thong Nhat Stadium in the round of 16 of the 2025-2026 National Cup.

Watch the LPBank Securities National Cup 2025/26 live and exclusively on FPT Play, at: http://fptplay.vn

NGUYEN KHOI

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/clb-tp-hcm-thang-tran-mo-man-cup-quoc-gia-20250912191728471.htm