Ninh Binh drew 1-1, coach Albadalejo spoke about the V-League race.

Ninh Binh drew 1-1 at home against Becamex Ho Chi Minh City in a match they were expected to win. The opening goal came from a penalty, but the home team couldn't maintain their advantage and conceded an equalizer at the end of the second half. Their 33-match unbeaten streak – a milestone cited as an Asian record – remains intact, but their top spot in the V-League is under significant pressure as they are only one point behind CAHN and Ninh Binh have played one more game.

The crucial moment: early advantage, late fatigue.

The match unfolded ideally for Ninh Binh when they took the lead from the penalty spot. However, their inability to score a second goal left the game constantly precarious. Towards the end of the second half, Becamex Ho Chi Minh City punished the home team's rare mistake, securing a 1-1 draw. These two dropped points in a closely contested match could create a ripple effect at the top of the table.

Expert analysis: control is in place, but the issue is not yet resolved.

Head coach Gerard Albadalejo described Ninh Binh as having "almost complete control of the game" but still failing to win. The core issue lay in the quality of the final touches – from the choice of shots to the decisiveness in the penalty area. When the only goal came from a penalty, it showed that the attacking play had rhythm but lacked the passes or shots sharp enough to finish the game.

In matches like these, a lead requires cool-headed control of the tempo: knowing when to speed up to find a second goal, and when to slow down to wear down the opponent. Ninh Binh did well in terms of control, but the gap between "control" and "finishing" was not filled – a small detail that could decide the entire long race.

Impact on the V-League race: the top spot is in jeopardy.

Hoang Duc and his teammates are still ahead of CAHN by one point, but Ninh Binh has played one more match. If CAHN wins their postponed Round 4 match against HAGL (which was delayed due to the AFC Champions League Two schedule), the top spot will change hands. However, coach Albadalejo emphasized the importance of maintaining composure when assessing the situation.

He said: "CAHN still has one match left to play against HAGL and we need to see if they can win. Currently, CAHN is in good form, but in football, we must not underestimate any opponent. We shouldn't assume that CAHN will win those remaining matches."

Message from the technical area: focus on what you control.

The Spanish captain stated frankly: "We will focus on tackling each of our matches individually. CAHN has their path, we have ours. The other teams are the same; each team must write its own story. Our core task is to focus on what Ninh Binh does well and what we need to improve."

He also expressed his feelings after the match: "I feel ashamed that we couldn't win today's game. There were many problems that prevented Ninh Binh from finding a way to overcome our opponent and win. We controlled the game almost completely but lacked decisive finishing to score."

Selected numbers

• Score: Ninh Binh 1-1 Becamex TP HCM (opening goal from penalty).
• Unbeaten streak: 33 matches – a record set in Asia.
• Current standings: Ninh Binh is 1 point ahead of CAHN but has played one more match.
• Notable rescheduled match: CAHN vs HAGL (postponed due to AFC Champions League Two schedule).

The bigger picture: long-term goals require composure in the penalty box.

Ninh Binh's biggest strength right now is their organizational foundation, which allows them to dictate the pace of the game. But to maintain – or reclaim – the top spot, the team needs to improve their finishing, especially against opponents who actively try to keep the game at a low tempo. In a race where errors are measured in points, improving the quality of decisions in the final third will be the difference between a disappointing draw and a decisive victory.

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