After losing the first match, Ninh Binh Football Club lost their top spot in the standings.

Among them, the two title contenders, The Cong Viettel Football Club and Hanoi Football Club, secured important victories to stay in the race at the top of the table. In the highlight match of the round, the league leaders Ninh Binh FC lost their top position after their first defeat of the season to their rival Hanoi Police FC.

The first match of round 12 took place on January 30 between Hong Linh Ha Tinh FC (7th place) and Becamex Ho Chi Minh City FC (6th place), ending in a 0-0 draw. Earning only one point was probably not what either team hoped for, as the away team Becamex Ho Chi Minh City aimed to win and close the gap with the teams above, while the home side Hong Linh Ha Tinh still aspired to reach the top 4.

The next two matches of round 12 were played yesterday, January 31. The Cong Viettel FC traveled to Lach Tray Stadium to face Hai Phong FC. Coach Popov’s players scored the opening goal at the 33rd minute thanks to striker Lucao. However, the home team Hai Phong, known for their stubborn playing style, did not give up and equalized at the 57th minute through Tagueu. Unwilling to settle for a draw, which could jeopardize their title chase this season, The Cong Viettel increased their attacking pressure on the road and scored the winning goal at 2-1 by Lucao. With this 2-1 victory, Coach Popov’s team climbed to third place in the standings, surpassing Hai Phong FC.

Hanoi FC also demonstrated their determination to chase the championship this season with a 3-1 victory over the home team Song Lam Nghe An. This win helped the capital club break into the top 5, opening opportunities for the title race. Despite losing at home, Song Lam Nghe An remain in 11th place with 10 points.

The remaining four matches of round 12 took place today (February 1). Hoang Anh Gia Lai FC secured a 1-0 home win against Da Nang FC. The only goal for the home team was scored by Garbiel in the 55th minute. This victory temporarily lifted the home side to 10th place with 11 points. The visiting SHB Da Nang still remain at the bottom of the table with only 7 points after 12 rounds.

The home match between Dong A Thanh Hoa FC and reigning champions Thep Xanh Nam Dinh ended in a 2-2 draw. The home team’s goals were scored by Dinh Huyen (39th minute) and an own goal by Thanh Hao of the visitors in the 78th minute. The visiting team’s goals were from Ti Phong (5th minute) and Brenner (29th minute). Despite the return of striker Xuan Son, Thep Xanh Nam Dinh could not secure a win. After 12 rounds, the Nam Dinh team currently ranks 9th with 11 points.

The match between the two police-affiliated teams, PVF-CAND FC and Ho Chi Minh City Police FC, held at the PVF Youth Football Training Center (Hung Yen), ended with a 2-1 victory for the visitors. Ho Chi Minh City Police FC took a two-goal lead with goals from Lee Williams (24th minute) and Dang Khoa (55th minute). The home team only managed to score once through Viet Ha (79th minute). With just 8 points after 12 rounds, PVF-CAND is in 13th place. The 3 points earned in this match put Ho Chi Minh City Police FC at 20 points, temporarily in 5th place.

The latest and also the highlight match of round 12 between Hanoi Police FC and Ninh Binh FC just ended with a 3-2 win for the police team. The two top-ranked teams faced off needing a win to compete for first place. All three goals for the home team were scored by Alan at the 30th, 35th, and 45+2 minutes. Although Ninh Binh took an early lead in the 2nd minute through Geovane, losing control of the game and the excellent performance of the home team players prevented the ancient capital club from earning points. The goal by Van Luan at the 54th minute was the last of the match. Suffering their first defeat since the start of the season, Ninh Binh FC (27 points) temporarily ceded the top spot to Hanoi Police FC (29 points).

Matches in round 13 of V.League 1-2025/2026 will continue from February 7 to 9.