SLNA 2-1 Becamex TP.HCM: Reon Moore's brace keeps hopes of avoiding relegation alive.

In the 69th minute, the Vinh stadium erupted. Following a quick one-two with Olaha, Reon Moore calmly turned and coolly finished from inside the penalty area, securing a 2-1 victory for Song Lam Nghe An against Becamex Ho Chi Minh City in Round 11 of the V-League 2025/26. In a situation where points were crucial to escape the relegation zone, the Trinidad & Tobago striker's brace brought more than just three points: a sense of relief for both the team and the fans.

Key events: chance, VAR, and two moments from Moore.

The match started at a high tempo: SLNA proactively pressed, while Becamex TP.HCM waited for quick counter-attacks. In the 18th minute, Minh Bình broke down the right wing but his shot was inaccurate – the first warning sign for the home team's defense.

About 10 minutes later, Van Cuong made a clever run behind the full-back and provided a perfect assist for Reon Moore to open the scoring 1-0. In the 34th minute, Manh Quynh missed a clear chance when facing the visitors' goal. Towards the end of the first half, the stands erupted when Van Cuong fell in the penalty area; after consulting VAR, the referee determined there was no penalty.

The unexpected turn of events came at the beginning of the second half. In the 48th minute, captain Tung Quoc skillfully controlled the ball in the penalty area before finishing accurately, bringing the game back to a tie. SLNA then increased the tempo, constantly putting pressure on Van Cong's goal – who came on to replace the injured Minh Toan in the 38th minute.

Moore nearly restored the lead with a close-range shot that went wide, but the number 10 striker didn't have to wait long. In the 69th minute, he combined well with Olaha to complete his brace and seal a 2-1 victory for the Nghe An team. Becamex Ho Chi Minh City threw everything into the 5 minutes of added time but failed to create any clear chances against the home team's tight defense.

Tactical analysis: SLNA's pressing and the visitors' counter-attacks.

SLNA started with high-pressure pressing, aiming to stifle Becamex TP.HCM's ball development down the flanks. The key was Van Cuong's off-ball movements on the right wing, stretching their defensive structure and opening up space for Moore to attack the far post. The opening goal came from this exact pattern: the visiting team's full-back was drawn to the ball, and the space behind him was immediately exploited.

Conversely, Becamex TP.HCM opted for a pragmatic approach: a low defensive line, waiting for opportunities to transition with speed and attacking power. Tung Quoc's equalizer, making it 1-1, came from a solo effort in the penalty area, showing they could pose a threat even without controlling the game. However, when a late goal was needed, the visitors lacked the creativity to break through SLNA's disciplined defense.

The forced change in Becamex TP.HCM's goalkeeping position (Van Cong replacing Minh Toan in the 38th minute) also affected their defensive rhythm. SLNA persistently attacked through the gap between the center-back and full-back, and the Olaha-Moore combination in the 69th minute was the result of that pressing game.

Impact: 3 points relieve the pressure for SLNA

The 2-1 victory helped SLNA temporarily move out of the bottom group, opening up hope in the relegation battle, fulfilling their short-term goal. As for Becamex TP.HCM, the defeat left them in the middle of the table, missing the opportunity to widen the gap to safety despite having equalized the game at times.

Selective statistics

• Score: SLNA 2-1 Becamex TP.HCM.
• Goalscorers: SLNA – Reon Moore (double, winning goal in the 69th minute); Becamex TP.HCM – Tung Quoc (48').
• VAR: denied a penalty to SLNA at the end of the first half.
• Notable substitution: Goalkeeper Van Cong comes on to replace Minh Toan (38').
• Added time in the second half: 5 minutes.