Newcomer shines on V-League debut.

Ninh Binh FC and PVF-CAND both secured victories on their debut in the 2025-2026 V-League season.

Người Lao Động•19/08/2025

At the end of Round 1 of the V-League 2025-2026, title contenders like Hanoi FC, Hanoi Police FC, and The Cong Viettel had a rocky start, but the "newcomers" shone with a full three points. These unexpected results in Round 1 have made the tournament even more exciting and interesting.

Ninh Binh Club makes an impression

Despite playing away from home, Ninh Binh FC secured a convincing 3-1 victory against their tough opponent, Hong Linh Ha Tinh FC, in their opening match of the 2025-2026 V-League season. The team from the ancient capital of Hoa Lu had a slight advantage in ball possession and shots on goal, but ultimately earned the three points thanks to the brilliance of their expensive star players.

As usual, Hong Linh Ha Tinh FC took advantage of their home ground to start the match with a quick tempo. Coach Nguyen Cong Manh's team used their signature counter-attacking strategy to limit the opponent's attacking capabilities. This slow and steady approach helped Hong Linh Ha Tinh FC score the opening goal in the 34th minute. However, the V-League newcomers were not one to give up easily. Hoang Duc and his teammates tightened their formation, quickly put pressure on the opponent's half, and found an equalizer just minutes later.

Ninh Binh FC (left) secured a victory on the opening day of the V-League 2025-2026 season. Photo: VPF

Possessing a core of national team players, Ninh Binh Club deployed a more diverse attacking strategy than the home team. The central midfield duo of Hoang Duc and Duc Chien excelled in controlling the midfield, balancing attack and defense, helping Ninh Binh Club control the game.

While the foreign players hadn't yet fully integrated into the team's playing style, coach Albadalejo Castano Gerard's tactical approach was executed smoothly thanks to the experienced domestic players who had played in the V-League. After Duc Chien scored the equalizer, Dung Quang Nho and Pham Gia Hung scored consecutively to seal the victory in the final minutes of the match.

Despite securing their first victory on their return to the V-League, experts believe Ninh Binh FC needs to improve their attacking capabilities and refine their finishing. This season, coach Albadalejo's team aims to compete for the domestic championship, but they need to effectively utilize their foreign players to realize their ambitions.

PVF-CAND creates the first shock.

Similar to Ninh Binh FC, PVF-CAND FC also made an impression with a victory on the opening day of the V-League 2025-2026. Notably, PVF-CAND's defeated opponent was the historically significant Song Lam Nghe An FC.

PVF-CAND FC entered the V-League as a replacement for Quang Nam FC. Due to limited time to prepare a strong squad, the team from Hung Yen was initially underestimated and faced the risk of relegation. However, their outstanding home performance on August 17th gave football experts a completely new perspective on the V-League "newcomer."

Coach Thach Bao Khanh demonstrated his tactical prowess by creating perfect pieces in the PVF-CAND Club's lineup. While the club's playing style hasn't been clearly defined, Coach Thach Bao Khanh's team knows how to capitalize on opportunities to control the game.

Facing a strong opponent, PVF-CAND Club adopted a tight defensive strategy, under the guidance of goalkeeper Phi Minh Long. After the opposing team became complacent in their attack, the home team launched a well-planned counter-attack and capitalized on the goal-scoring skills of their two renowned foreign strikers, Amalrido and Mpande, to secure a 2-1 victory.

With only a little over two weeks to prepare for the V-League season, PVF-CAND Club still has some rough patches in terms of coordination. However, the victory on the opening day of the tournament will create momentum, giving coach Thach Bao Khanh's team more enthusiasm and strength in their journey to avoid relegation in the V-League, and they may even be able to break into the top 5 if they can maintain their peak performance.

After the first round, Hanoi FC disappointed by failing to win any points in their away match at Thong Nhat Stadium. Ho Chi Minh City Police FC and Becamex Ho Chi Minh City FC surprised everyone with convincing victories against strong teams, temporarily leading the standings with 3 points each.