Lee Williams shines in the 90+5th minute, saving Ho Chi Minh City Police from defeat against Ninh Binh.

The highly anticipated match of V-League 2025/2026 Round 24 between Ninh Binh and Ho Chi Minh City Police was a dramatic affair that lasted until the very last seconds. Despite taking an early lead through Gustavo, the home team Ninh Binh couldn't maintain their advantage, conceding an equalizer to Lee Williams in the 5th minute of added time, resulting in a disappointing 1-1 draw.

Midfield tension and VAR intervention

Right after the opening whistle, both teams made no secret of their intention to play an all-out attacking game. The midfield became a hotbed of fierce battles. Particularly noteworthy was the direct confrontation between the reigning Golden Ball winner Nguyen Hoang Duc and the mobile midfield of the visiting team. Hoang Duc's presence helped Ninh Binh control the tempo well, but CA TPHCM also showed they were not easily intimidated with sharp counter-attacks.

In the 15th minute, the stadium erupted when the referee pointed to the penalty spot for Ninh Binh after a collision inside the penalty area. However, after careful consultation with VAR technology, the decision was changed, much to the disappointment of the home team's fans. Just 10 minutes later, CA TPHCM had a goal disallowed for Ngoc Long due to offside. Accurate decisions from the refereeing team kept the match in a precarious balance.

The turning point came from Gustavo's header.

In a closely contested match, the class of the foreign stars shone through at the right moment. In the 40th minute, from a well-executed attack down the left wing, Geovane delivered a cross that completely bypassed the opposing defense. Striker Gustavo positioned himself intelligently, leaping high to head the ball past goalkeeper Patrik Lê Giang, opening the scoring for Ninh Bình.

The opening goal gave Ninh Binh confidence going into halftime. In the second half, the home team's coach instructed his players to drop deep, setting up a layered defensive block to protect their advantage. This style of play made it very difficult for CA TPHCM to find a way past goalkeeper Dang Van Lam.

Lee Williams' all-in gamble and moment of triumph.

Faced with their players' deadlock, the Ho Chi Minh City Police coaching staff were forced to make crucial personnel changes. Nguyen Tien Linh and Vietnamese-American player Khoa Ngo were brought onto the field to increase pressure on the flanks. This change helped the visiting team create a series of dangerous opportunities in the final 15 minutes of the match. In the 76th minute, Lee Williams almost equalized if his close-range header hadn't gone just over the crossbar.

Ninh Binh also had a chance to seal the match when Geovane faced Patrik Le Giang in a quick counter-attack, but the striker's shot was too weak. This failure to capitalize on the opportunity cost the home team dearly in the final minutes of added time.

In the 90+5th minute, amidst a chaotic situation in the penalty area, Lee Williams rose high to head the ball against the post. He reacted swiftly, rushing in to unleash a powerful rebound shot, beating Dang Van Lam and securing a 1-1 draw. This goal not only earned CA TPHCM a valuable point but also demonstrated the never-give-up spirit of the team from Ho Chi Minh City.

Match statistics

This result makes the race for the top 3 in the V-League 2025/2026 more intense than ever. For Ninh Binh, dropping the victory in the final seconds is a valuable lesson about concentration. Meanwhile, Ho Chi Minh City Police can be satisfied with one point after an emotional comeback away from home.