Ho Chi Minh City, 8 February 2026 – The 1–2 defeat to Dong A Thanh Hoa at Thong Nhat Stadium on the evening of February 8 not only denied Ho Chi Minh City Police FC the chance to close in on the Top 3, but also underlined how tough their medal chase in V.League 1 2025/26 is proving to be.
Before Round 13, Ho Chi Minh City Police FC had everything in their favor to make a push upward. They were playing at home, facing a Thanh Hoa side struggling with squad problems and inconsistent form, while coach Le Huynh Duc’s team had just secured an important win in the previous round.
Another victory would have brought them right up to the Top 3 and opened the clearest path yet into the medal race. But football, as Duc himself said after the match, “is like that.” What unfolded at Thong Nhat Stadium followed the opposite script. Dong A Thanh Hoa entered the game with the mindset of a team that had nothing to lose. The visitors played aggressively, at high tempo, and with physical intensity, constantly putting Ho Chi Minh City Police FC’s defense under pressure.
Lao foreign player Damoth Thongkhamsavath became the symbol of that spirit, scoring with two thunderous long-range shots that beat newly naturalized goalkeeper Le Giang. After the match, coach Mai Xuan Hop could not hide his joy at seeing his players fight for the club colors. For him, the victory was not just about three points, but a reward for the team’s fighting spirit and sacrifices.
Coach Le Huynh Duc admitted that Ho Chi Minh City Police FC did not play badly, controlling possession and creating chances, but lost because they failed to take advantage of key moments. The absence of overseas Vietnamese striker Williams Lee was one factor, yet Tien Linh, Khoa Ngo, and Endrick all squandered clear opportunities that could have changed the game.
The loss to Thanh Hoa showed that Ho Chi Minh City Police FC are still missing something to truly break into the top group. On paper, Duc’s squad is rated higher than many of their direct rivals.
However, when facing teams that rely on spirit, intensity, and tactical discipline, Ho Chi Minh City Police FC often fall into a state of stagnation. The Thong Nhat Stadium hosts enjoyed plenty of possession but lacked sharpness. Tien Linh and his teammates had chances, but were not clinical enough to finish off the opponent.
After Round 13, Ho Chi Minh City Police FC remain in sixth place with 20 points, seeing the gap to the teams above widen while also facing pressure from sides behind them such as Hanoi FC. The road into the medal race has therefore become more uncertain than ever.
Thanh Trang
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