CAHN beat PVF-CAND 2-0: the turning point came from a penalty.

Hanoi Police defeated PVF-CAND 2-0, with the opening goal coming from a penalty kick that broke through the visitors' tight defense. The victory extended Mano Polking's team's unbeaten streak to 9 matches, giving them 20 points, level with Ninh Binh but with an inferior goal difference. PVF-CAND continues its crisis, having gone 7 consecutive matches without a win, sitting in 11th place with 7 points, just one point ahead of the bottom-placed team.

The turning point came from the penalty spot.

In a closely contested match, the penalty kick proved to be the turning point. Coach Thach Bao Khanh himself admitted: “In my opinion, CAHN is the strongest team in the league at the moment; they have many quality national team players in their squad. Our strategy for this match was to proactively defend from the start. My players played well until we conceded a goal from the penalty spot.”

Following that incident, PVF-CAND was forced to change their playing style: “In my opinion, that penalty was a bit harsh. When trailing, PVF-CAND had to push their formation higher to look for an equalizer, which led to gaps in their defense.” From a defensive stance, they were forced to open up their formation, ceding control of the game to the opponent and were unable to reverse the result.

PVF-CAND's defensive plan and limitations

PVF-CAND implemented a defensive plan from the start and showed good organization in the first half. Coach Thach Bao Khanh emphasized: “We will have to improve this, although we played better defensively today than in previous rounds. In the first half, PVF-CAND played well, the players covered for each other and prevented Hanoi Police from having many opportunities.”

Facing what the PVF-CAND coach himself considered the "strongest opponent in the league," maintaining team shape, covering, and limiting space were key. However, a penalty decision forced them to deviate from their initial strategy. As the team pushed forward, gaps appeared and defensive risks increased, rendering their initial defensive efforts ineffective.

Performance streaks and their impact on the race

With this victory, Hanoi Police secured their fourth win in the last five rounds, continuing to chase Ninh Binh with both teams having 20 points and only trailing in goal difference. More importantly, Mano Polking's team maintained their unbeaten streak after nine matches, creating a stable foundation for the long-term race in the V-League.

Conversely, PVF-CAND suffered their second consecutive defeat, extending their winless streak to seven matches. Their 11th place position with 7 points, just one point above the bottom team, puts them under increasing pressure to avoid relegation, especially as their upcoming schedule demands better risk management at crucial moments in matches.

Tactical perspective: when the "state of the game" dictates.

Against an opponent highly rated for individual quality, PVF-CAND chose to slow down the pace, consolidate their formation, and prioritize defensive coverage. This plan worked until the penalty goal resulted. From the moment they had to open up their formation, the principles of mass defense were no longer fully effective; gaps appeared behind the lines, and the pressure of transitioning caused errors to increase. In that scenario, CAHN controlled the game's tempo and preserved their advantage to seal a 2-0 victory.

Notable statement

Coach Thach Bao Khanh: “In my opinion, CAHN is the strongest team in the league right now. They have many quality national team players in their squad... My players played well until they conceded a goal from a penalty.”

Coach Thach Bao Khanh: “In my opinion, that penalty was a bit harsh... When trailing, PVF-CAND is forced to push forward to find an equalizer, which leads to gaps in the defense.”

Coach Thach Bao Khanh: “We will have to improve this, even though we played better defensively today than in previous rounds... In the first half, PVF-CAND played well, the players covered for each other and prevented Hanoi Police from having many opportunities.”

Selective statistics

• Score: Hanoi Police 2-0 PVF-CAND
• The turning point: The opening goal from the penalty spot.
• CAHN: Undefeated in 9 matches; won 4 out of the last 5 rounds; 20 points, behind Ninh Binh on goal difference.
• PVF-CAND: No wins in 7 matches; 2 consecutive losses; ranked 11th with 7 points; 1 point ahead of the last-placed team.