A rare overseas Vietnamese shines brightly in his first starting match in the V.League

Australian-Vietnamese midfielder Khoa Ngô experienced a remarkable night in round 12 of the 2025/26 V.League 1, as he not only started for the first time in the highest Vietnamese football league but also netted his debut goal for the Ho Chi Minh City Police Club.

In the match held at 18:00 on February 1 at PVF Stadium, coach Lê Huỳnh Đức trusted Khoa Ngô with a starting spot. This marked an important milestone for the 2006-born midfielder, signifying his first appearance in the starting lineup of the V.League after a short period of integration with the Ho Chi Minh City Police Club.

Living up to expectations, Khoa Ngô made a strong impression. Williams Lee opened the scoring for the Ho Chi Minh City Police Club, before Khoa Ngô himself doubled the lead to 2-0 following a well-coordinated play assisted by Lee Williams. This goal was not only significant for the match but also affirmed the integration and potential of the Australian-Vietnamese player in Vietnam’s top football environment.

Before this official match, the Ho Chi Minh City Police Club underwent a training camp in the northern region to acclimate to the weather and pitch conditions. A highlight of the preparation phase was a friendly match against Thep Xanh Nam Dinh on January 11 at Thien Truong Stadium.

Although they lost 2-4 to the reigning V.League champions, Ho Chi Minh City Police Club gained many positive signs. In that game, Khoa Ngô scored the equalizer to make it 2-2 after coming on in the second half, with a smart run and a finish that beat goalkeeper Nguyen Manh.

One notable point is the increasingly effective connection between the two overseas Vietnamese players, Khoa Ngô and Williams Lee. During training, this duo often communicates in both Vietnamese and English, encouraging each other during drills and showing great understanding in their movements.

Khoa Ngô impressed with his confidence, agility, and quick grasp of coaching instructions. He actively communicates with teammates, including foreign players, and demonstrates fluent Vietnamese thanks to his family background. In many training sessions, scenes of Khoa Ngô applauding Williams Lee or the two chatting warmly highlighted a positive bond.

With both Khoa Ngô and Williams Lee performing well against PVF-CAND, it is clear that coach Lê Huỳnh Đức expects this overseas Vietnamese duo to become key players for the remainder of the season.