V.League 1 – Round 6: Hanoi Police FC surges to top standings as undefeated streaks narrow

A series of unexpected results in Round 6 of the LPBank V-League 2024-2025 has left only one team unbeaten and brought a shake-up at the top of the standings. Prior to Round 6, Hong Linh Ha Tinh and Hoang Anh Gia Lai (HAGL) were the only teams with unbeaten records after five matches. However, with the conclusion of this round, only Hong Linh Ha Tinh remains undefeated, as HAGL suffered their first loss of the season against Becamex Binh Duong. This match saw Vietnamese international striker Nguyen Tien Linh shine with a brace, taking him to the top of the league’s goal-scoring chart.

The round’s highlight fixture was the intense showdown between Dong A Thanh Hoa and Hanoi FC, who delivered an exhilarating performance for the fans. Playing at home and buoyed by recently receiving the “Team of the Month” and “Coach of the Month” awards for September, Dong A Thanh Hoa put Hanoi FC under relentless pressure. After several close chances, Thanh Hoa finally broke the deadlock in the second half, with Rimabar scoring the opener. They continued to threaten, but Hanoi FC’s resilience paid off as they managed to equalize in the final seconds through Hai Long’s late goal, securing a 1-1 draw.

Taking advantage of Thanh Hoa’s dropped points, Hanoi Police FC clinched a comprehensive 3-0 win over SHB Da Nang in the final game of Round 6, propelling them to the top of the league standings for the first time this season. Despite the convincing scoreline, the match was more closely contested than it appeared, as Da Nang had multiple opportunities to open the scoring but couldn’t capitalize. In contrast, Hanoi Police FC’s formidable striking duo, Leonardo Artur and Alan Grafite, unlocked Da Nang’s defense after a goalless first half. Artur scored twice and assisted Grafite’s goal, putting the game beyond Da Nang’s reach. Artur even had the chance for a hat-trick but missed a late penalty.

The 3-0 victory was sufficient for Hanoi Police FC to ascend to the top of the standings, boasting 11 points, level with Thanh Hoa and Viettel but with a superior goal difference. This marks the first time this season that Hanoi Police FC has led the standings. After a slow start to the season, coach Alexandre Polking’s team appears to have found their rhythm and now look set to compete in the title race for the LPBank V-League 2024-2025.

However, the competition remains fierce, with Hanoi Police FC, Thanh Hoa, and Viettel only two points ahead of eighth-placed Hanoi FC. This narrow gap means that a single match could alter the standings significantly, setting up an exciting few rounds ahead.

The same tight situation can be observed in the lower half of the table, where ninth-placed Quang Nam is only three points ahead of 14th-placed SHB Da Nang. With the season yet to reach its halfway mark and a mid-season transfer window approaching, every team still has the opportunity to make roster adjustments and reinforce their lineups, keeping the league highly competitive.

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