Ninh Binh drew 1-1 with Becamex Ho Chi Minh City, Hoang Duc left disappointed.

Ninh Binh squandered a home victory, drawing 1-1 with Becamex Ho Chi Minh City in Round 9 of the V-League 2025/26 on the evening of November 1st, thus missing the opportunity to widen the gap in the championship race. The team from the ancient capital of Hoa Lu still leads with 21 points, but the gap with Hanoi Police is now only 1 point, and their rivals still have a game in hand. After the match, Nguyen Hoang Duc expressed his regret, while coach Gerard Albadalejo admitted the team lacked decisiveness in finishing.

The moment of losing the advantage and the lesson about focus.

While not many specific technical details were released, both the players' and the coach's statements indicated that Ninh Binh controlled most of the game but lacked sharpness in crucial moments. According to Hoang Duc, the team was careless at times, allowing the opponent to equalize and turning their advantage into a disappointing draw. For a leading team, these moments of lapse in concentration are all the more costly.

Hoang Duc: Regrets losing 2 points due to moments of carelessness.

Midfielder Nguyen Hoang Duc frankly acknowledged the team's morale and focus issues:

"In this match, the team played very hard, but overall, the whole team was a little unfocused at times, allowing the opposing team to equalize. I'm very disappointed that the team only managed a draw."

Perhaps after this match, the whole team will learn from their mistakes and prepare for the next game. Ninh Binh always respects its opponents, and before facing any opponent, the whole team will thoroughly research them."

Coach Gerard Albadalejo's perspective: Too much control, too little decisiveness.

Coach Gerard Albadalejo emphasized that the team controlled most of the game but couldn't find the solution in the finishing touch.

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

From a tactical perspective, this is a problem in the "final third" where possession isn't being converted into clear chances and goals. Aggression in finishing, speed in decision-making in the final stages, and managing the tempo after taking the lead are aspects Ninh Binh needs to refine immediately.

Impact on the V-League 2025/26 championship race

With 21 points after 9 rounds, Ninh Binh still holds the top spot. However, Hanoi Police has narrowed the gap to just 1 point and still has a game in hand. This means the pressure to catch up will increase in the remaining matches, as any slip-up at home could reverse the course of the race.

Areas that need immediate improvement.

• Stay focused throughout the match, especially after gaining an advantage, to avoid conceding an equalizer.
• Improve the quality of your finishing decisions and convert possession into goals.
• Maintain intensity and tactical discipline against lower-ranked opponents.

Match highlights based on facts.

• Score: Ninh Binh 1-1 Becamex Ho Chi Minh City.
• Date: Round 9 of V-League 2025/26, evening of November 1st.
• Standings: Ninh Binh leads with 21 points.
• The gap: They are one point ahead of Hanoi Police, with their opponent having one game in hand.

A message from the locker room.

Hoang Duc's statement reflects internal self-reflection: respecting the opponent, thoroughly studying their playing style, and learning from mistakes immediately. Meanwhile, coach Gerard Albadalejo's message is a clear demand for quality finishing and decisiveness. This is the foundation for Ninh Binh to maintain their advantage in the intense phase ahead.

The V-League 2025/26 season is still long, but the challenge for the top teams is to avoid letting moments of carelessness cost them crucial points. With the pressure from the chasing pack, every upcoming match will be a test of their mettle.

CTVX