CAHN lost to Tai Po 0-1 but still advanced to the AFC Cup.
James Temelkovski's penalty in the 13th minute decided the match at Mong Kok Stadium, but CAHN had already secured their place in the round of 16 with 8 points, 5 points behind Macarthur and 1 point ahead of Tai Po.
A penalty in the 13th minute was all it took for Tai Po FC to defeat CAHN 1-0 at Mong Kok Stadium in Group E of the AFC Champions League Two 2025/26 on the evening of December 11th. The loss did not change the overall standings: CAHN had already secured qualification from matchday 5, finishing the group stage in second place with 8 points.
The crucial moment: a penalty in the 13th minute.
The game started at a high tempo as both goalkeepers had to make early saves: Vu Thanh Vinh saved Weverton Rangel's shot from inside the penalty area, while Tse Ka Wing pushed away Leo Artur's long-range shot from about 20 meters. The turning point came in the 13th minute when Leygley Adou handled the ball inside the penalty area. James Temelkovski took the penalty kick into the bottom right corner, and although Vu Thanh Vinh guessed the right direction, he couldn't make the save.
After conceding a goal, CAHN increased the tempo. Artur and Alves Rozario repeatedly exploited Tai Po's defense, before Nguyen Quang Hai's shot from outside the penalty area deflected off a defender and went wide in the 45+2 minute. The home team maintained their 1-0 lead until the end of the first half.
Development and rhythm
The second half started brightly in the opening minutes with shots from Le Van Do, Alan (CAHN), and Rangel (Tai Po), but they lacked accuracy. From then on, the match cooled down: CAHN had already secured their place in the next round, and Tai Po lacked motivation, resulting in moderate intensity in both challenges and risky plays. The 1-0 score remained until the end of the match.
Tactical perspective
The opening goal from the penalty spot showed Tai Po's effective use of a set-piece situation. After that, they prioritized risk control, accepting a moderate pace of play. CAHN proactively increased the tempo after falling behind, creating opportunities through relentless shots from Artur, Rozario, and long-range attempts from Quang Hai. However, in a match that was essentially a formality, the quality of the final touches from both teams was inconsistent, especially in terms of shots on target.
Selective statistics
| Item | Information |
|---|---|
| Score | Tai Po FC 1-0 CAHN |
| Goal scorer | James Temelkovski (penalty) 13' |
| Outstanding goalkeeper | Vu Thanh Vinh saves Weverton Rangel's shot; Tse Ka Wing pushes away Leo Artur's shot from approximately 20 meters. |
| A noteworthy opportunity | Nguyen Quang Hai's shot hit a defender and went wide of the goal in the 45+2 minute. |
| Location - Time | Mong Kok Stadium, evening of December 11th |
Impact on the standings in Group E
With 8 points after the group stage, CAHN finished second in the group, 5 points behind Macarthur FC. Tai Po finished third, one point behind CAHN. More importantly, the Vietnamese representative officially secured a place in the round of 16 as early as matchday 5 after a 2-1 victory against Beijing FC. The loss in Mong Kok was therefore merely a formality and did not affect CAHN's progress.
Professional highlights
- Decisive set-piece situation: Tai Po converted an early penalty to seal the game.
- The goalkeeper's outstanding reflexes at the start of the match created a high tempo before the intensity gradually decreased.
- CAHN lacked accuracy in the final moments despite constantly trying to find options for long-range shots and shots from inside the penalty area.
The 0-1 result concluded the group stage with CAHN in a dominant position: a ticket to the next round was already in their hands, and a lesson in capitalizing on penalty opportunities was learned for the knockout stage ahead.