Hung Yen, 12 April 2026 – Nguyen Dinh Bac continued his scoring form, but Hanoi Police FC were held to a 1-1 draw by PVF-CAND in Round 18 of the V.League 1 – 2025/26.
The PVF Stadium in Hung Yen hosted a clash between the league leaders and the bottom-placed side. Hanoi Police FC aimed to extend their lead at the top, while PVF-CAND were desperate for points to escape the relegation zone.
The hosts nearly shocked their opponents in the 10th minute when Thai Ba Dat found the net, but the goal was ruled out for offside after VAR confirmed Nguyen Thanh Nhan had been in an illegal position during the build-up.
Shortly after that scare, Hanoi Police FC opened the scoring in fortunate fashion. From the center, Stefan Mauk played the ball forward to Nguyen Dinh Bac, who took a touch before firing a low shot from distance. The effort was not particularly powerful, but goalkeeper Phi Minh Long made a mistake, allowing the ball to slip into the net.
This marked the first time Nguyen Dinh Bac scored in two consecutive V.League matches, bringing his tally to three goals this season—his best personal record in a single campaign.
Despite conceding, PVF-CAND remained composed and continued to threaten. If not for key saves from goalkeeper Nguyen Filip in the 25th and 26th minutes, Nguyen Thanh Nhan could have equalized earlier.
The breakthrough for PVF-CAND came in the 54th minute. Lucas Turci launched a long ball from deep, allowing Nguyen Xuan Bac to beat the offside trap and go one-on-one with the goalkeeper. Although his first attempt was saved, he reacted quickly to slot home the rebound, making it 1-1.
With superior quality, Hanoi Police FC dominated possession and chances but struggled in the absence of key players Alan Sebastiao and Leo Artur. Nguyen Dinh Bac missed two clear opportunities, including a shot that grazed the side netting in the 66th minute and a late volley that went wide despite an open position.
Frustration grew for Hanoi Police FC as PVF-CAND repeatedly slowed the game down. In the final minutes and added time, the home players frequently went down, with goalkeeper Phi Minh Long even booked for time-wasting.
Head coach Mano Polking was also unhappy with a controversial challenge in the 59th minute, when Nguyen Vu Tin received only a yellow card after a dangerous tackle on Le Van Do, a decision upheld after VAR review.
The draw ended Hanoi Police FC’s 11-match winning streak. They now have 45 points, seven ahead of The Cong. Meanwhile, PVF-CAND moved to 13 points, one above bottom side Da Nang.
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