Determining the first semifinal pair of the 2025/26 National Cup: Xuan Son faces Khoa Ngo

Ho Chi Minh City Police Club defeated Truong Tuoi Dong Nai 1-0 to become the first team to advance to the semifinals of the 2025/26 National Cup, thereby setting up a matchup with Thep Xanh Nam Dinh.

Ho Chi Minh City Police Club becomes the first team to secure a spot in the semifinals of the LPBank Securities National Cup 2025/26 after a 1-0 victory over Truong Tuoi Dong Nai Club. This result also determines the first semifinal pairing of the tournament, as Coach Le Huynh Duc and his team will face Thep Xanh Nam Dinh Club.

Entering the quarterfinal match, Truong Tuoi Dong Nai Club, despite being rated lower, displayed a proactive competitive spirit. Coach Viet Thang's team implemented an aggressive pressing style, not afraid of physical contact and maintaining a compact formation to limit the attacking strength of the home team.

This approach resulted in a balanced first half. Ho Chi Minh City Police controlled possession more but struggled to penetrate the disciplined defense of their opponent. The first 45 minutes ended without a goal, clearly reflecting the tactical stalemate between the two teams.

In the second half, the home team increased their attacking tempo and began creating notable opportunities. Khoa Ngo continued to be the focal point of the attack, constantly pressuring Truong Tuoi Dong Nai's defensive system. In the 71st minute, he earned a penalty after being fouled by Tan Sinh inside the box.

From the penalty spot, the Vietnamese-born player from 2006 coolly defeated goalkeeper Tan Truong to open the scoring. This is also Khoa Ngo's third consecutive goal in Ho Chi Minh City Police's recent winning streak, highlighting his increasingly important role in the lineup.

In the final minutes, Ho Chi Minh City Police played cautiously to preserve their advantage. Although Tien Linh missed a chance to double the lead following Khoa Ngo's assist, the home team maintained a 1-0 victory. With this result, they officially created the first semifinal pairing with Thep Xanh Nam Dinh, setting up a highly anticipated showdown.