Hung Dung shines, Hanoi defeats Ninh Binh to close in on top 3

In a direct clash among the top group, Hanoi secured a 3-2 victory right on Ninh Binh's home ground, narrowing the gap to just 1 point, making the race for the top 3 intensely competitive.

Right from the start, Hanoi quickly demonstrated their class as Hung Dung opened the scoring in the 3rd minute with a precise shot from outside the penalty area. The match then became lively as both teams exchanged attacks, featuring dangerous attempts like Marcelino's shot hitting the crossbar or Xuan Manh's effort.

The turning point came late in the first half when Hanoi scored two quick goals. In the 45+1 minute, Anh Tiep capitalized on a chaotic situation after a corner kick to head the ball and increase the lead to 2-0. However, Ninh Binh did not give up as Geovane unleashed a beautiful one-touch shot in the 45+3 minute, reducing the deficit to 1-2 before halftime.

In the second half, Hanoi further extended their lead. In the 58th minute, Van Quyet finished after a quick counterattack, the ball hitting the crossbar and crossing the goal line, making the score 3-1. But just minutes later, Ninh Binh responded with a goal from Quoc Viet's free kick in the 62nd minute, narrowing the gap to 2-3.

The match became tense in the final minutes as controversial incidents occurred repeatedly. In the 74th minute, Tuan Hai fell inside the penalty area but VAR did not award Hanoi a penalty. By the 82nd minute, Ninh Binh seemed to have equalized when Hoang Duc successfully scored on the rebound, but the goal was not recognized due to Friday being in an offside position earlier.

Ultimately, Hanoi narrowly preserved their victory in a highly dramatic match, where both teams displayed high fighting spirit and created many notable opportunities.

90+8': Full time!

82': Goal not recognized! Friday sprinted forward to face the keeper but couldn't beat Van Chuan, Hoang Duc rushed in to score on the rebound. However, the referee disallowed the goal because Friday was in an offside position beforehand.

74':No goal yet! Tuan Hai rushed in to shoot but sent the ball wide of the goal. VAR later checked and did not award Hanoi a penalty.

62': Ninh Binh immediately responded with their second goal!From a direct free kick, Nguyen Quoc Viet's shot slightly touched the defensive wall, changing direction and leaving Van Chuan unable to react.

58': GOAL!!! Hanoi FC counterattacked quickly, Hoang Hen broke down the left flank and delivered a favorable cross, Van Quyet rushed in to finish, the ball hit the crossbar and bounced over the goal line, increasing the score.

56': Hai Long continuously disrupted Ninh Binh's defense, he unleashed a shot, but the ball again went wide of the home team's goal.

49': Geovane put the ball into Hanoi's net with an accurate curled shot across the corner, but the goal was not recognized as the assistant referee raised the flag for offside.

46': Second half begins

45+4': The first half concludes with a 2-1 advantage favoring Hanoi FC.

45'+3: GOAL! NINH BINH REDUCES THE GAP TO 1-2!

Capitalizing on a clumsy clearance by Dinh Hai, Geovane immediately unleashed a one-touch shot from outside the penalty area, the ball traveling low and leaving Van Chuan helpless.

45'+1: GOOOAL! 2-0 for Hanoi.

From a corner kick situation, chaos inside the penalty area left Ninh Binh's defense and Van Lam unable to handle it, allowing Nguyen Anh Tiep to rush in and head the ball close to the goal for the score.

34': Duy Manh suffered an injury and had to leave the field. Coach Harry Kewell quickly introduced young center-back Anh Tiep as a replacement.

28': Ninh Binh is pushing hard to advance their attacking formation, but against the solid defense of the visiting team, they have yet to create a breakthrough.

13': Hanoi coordinated sharp attacks, Xuan Manh seized the moment to unleash a very powerful shot but the ball hit the opponent's crossbar.

6': Almost a goal! Ninh Binh built up play coherently, Marcelino unleashed a powerful shot but the ball hit the crossbar with much regret.

3': GOOOAL! Hung Dung opens the scoring for Hanoi

Receiving the ball outside the penalty area, Hung Dung had enough space to unleash a decisive shot. Although Dang Van Lam dove to block it, the ball was placed too precisely and struck straight into the net.

1': The match officially begins

Starting Lineup: Ninh Binh vs Hanoi

Live Stream: Ninh Binh vs Hanoi, Time and Location?

• Location: Ninh Binh Stadium
• Competition: Round 20 LPBank V.League 2025/26
• Live Stream Available on: TV 360, F PT Play

Expected Lineup: Ninh Binh vs Hanoi

• Ninh Binh:Van Lam, Thanh Thinh, Marcelino, Quang Nho, Tien Anh, Duc Chieng, Thanh Trung, Hoang Duc, Geovane, Quoc Viet, Friday.
• Hanoi:Van Chuan, Duy Manh, Xuan Manh, Van Thang, Van Toan, Dinh Hai, Hoang Hen, Hai Long, Van Quyet, Fisher, Floro Daniel.

Analysis: Ninh Binh vs Hanoi

Ninh Binh enters Round 20 with great confidence, maintaining a streak of 4 consecutive victories, including 3 in the V.League. Their recent 3-0 thrashing of PVF-CAND further bolstered the team's morale before hosting Hanoi. Their disciplined play and efficiency in finishing are becoming pillars for Ninh Binh to aim at maintaining their position in the top group.

On the other side, Hanoi also shows considerable stability, having successively defeated Becamex TP.HCM and Ha Tinh. If not for a stumble against Hai Phong, the capital's team would have a longer winning streak. Currently standing 4th and trailing Ninh Binh by 4 points, Hanoi understands that a victory away from home will help them close the gap and maintain their chance to squeeze into the Top 3 as the season enters its decisive phase.

Despite having home advantage and a quality squad, Ninh Binh still faces challenges as their defensive-counterattacking style hasn't fully maximized effectiveness. Meanwhile, Hanoi carries great determination after the defeat in the first leg, along with the desire to settle the debt right on the opponent's ground. With motivation from both sides, this clash is predicted to be closely contested and unpredictable.

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