V-League Round 14: Hanoi Police Begin to Pull Away at the Top

A 3-1 victory over Hoang Anh Gia Lai solidifies Hanoi Police's position at the top of the table with 35 points, leading second-placed The Cong Viettel by 7 points. The Public Security team also has one game in hand.

Coach Mano Polking's side is in excellent form, remaining undefeated in the V-League this season. More broadly, Hanoi Police are on a 16-match unbeaten streak in the Vietnamese national championship.

Having been eliminated from the ASEAN Champions Cup, the AFC Cup, and the National Cup, Hanoi Police can now focus solely on the V-League. With a quality squad and operating at their most comfortable level, they are highly rated as strong title contenders.

Not only do they hold every advantage in the title race, but Hanoi Police's rivals are also struggling for form.

Ninh Bình appears to be running out of steam in recent rounds. In Round 14, the Hoa Lu-based team suffered another defeat in the Ninh Bình derby against Thep Xanh Nam Dinh, losing 2-3. Despite quickly taking a 2-goal lead thanks to Thanh Thinh and Hoang Duc, Ninh Bình allowed their opponents to stage a comeback. This result drops them to 3rd place with 27 points.

Capitalizing on their rival's stumble, The Cong Viettel secured a 1-0 victory in the Capital derby against Hanoi FC. With a full 3 points from Round 14, the Military team climbed to take 2nd place from Ninh Bình.

Meanwhile, the loss to The Cong Viettel forces Hanoi FC to remain stuck in 4th place with 21 points. Hai Phong has the same points total as Hanoi FC but trails due to an inferior goal difference (+5 compared to +6).

While the championship race shows signs of being decided, the battle at the bottom remains tightly contested. The team in 9th place is only 5 points clear of the relegation zone and is certainly not safe yet. Given the current situation, the fight for survival in this V-League season promises to be thrilling and intense.

At Chi Lang Stadium, SHB Da Nang delivered an impressive performance with a 3-0 victory over PVF People's Public Security in Round 14. Although still at the bottom of the table, they significantly closed the gap on this direct rival, now trailing by just 1 point, intensifying the tense relegation battle. Furthermore, the Han River team still has one game in hand. The bottom two positions are currently held by PVF People's Public Security (11 points) and SHB Da Nang (10 points).

Elsewhere, defending champions Nam Dinh secured their first win after seven months of only draws and losses. Notably, striker Nguyen Xuan Son found the net again after a long injury layoff.