Hanoi, 3 Nov 2026 – Cong An Ha Noi FC were forced to settle for a 0-0 draw against Japanese side Kyoto Sanga in Matchday 4 of the AFC Champions League Elite 2026/27 on November 3, missing several clear scoring opportunities as their hopes of reaching the knockout stage remain uncertain.
Following their impressive 3-2 away victory over Shanghai Port in the previous round, Cong An Ha Noi FC returned home determined to secure another positive result and strengthen their position in the race for a top-eight finish in the East Region standings. Head coach Mano Polking adopted a cautious approach against the in-form Japanese visitors, naming five foreign players in his starting lineup: Leo Artur, Damià Sabater, Alan, Perea and Frans Putros. The squad also featured several prominent Vietnamese internationals, including goalkeeper Nguyen Filip, Quang Vinh, Adou Minh, Doan Van Hau, Bui Hoang Viet Anh and Vu Van Do.
Both teams approached the opening stages with attacking intent, producing a competitive contest as Kyoto Sanga pushed forward while Cong An Ha Noi FC looked to exploit their attacking quality. Despite facing opponents enjoying strong domestic form, Polking’s players showed confidence in possession and created several promising opportunities during the first half. Their determination to claim all three points was evident, particularly as a victory would have improved their chances of advancing to the knockout stage.
The Vietnamese representatives produced at least three dangerous scoring opportunities before halftime. In the 16th minute, Perea tested the visiting goalkeeper with a powerful strike following a pass from Leo Artur. The Brazilian attacker then threatened Kyoto Sanga’s goal in the 22nd minute, before Adou Minh created another dangerous moment in the 31st. Cong An Ha Noi FC’s best opportunity arrived in the 44th minute when Artur found himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper, but his left-footed attempt failed to break the deadlock. The missed chance proved costly as the teams entered the interval with the score still level.
Kyoto Sanga increased their attacking pressure after the restart, attempting to take advantage of the energy Cong An Ha Noi FC had expended during an intense first half. The Japanese side pushed higher up the pitch and began creating more opportunities, forcing the hosts to defend with greater discipline. In response, Polking introduced Nguyen Dinh Bac, Nguyen Thanh Long and goalkeeper Nguyen Van Toan as he adjusted his lineup during the second half.
The visitors managed to create several dangerous situations in front of Nguyen Filip’s goal but were unable to convert their chances. Cong An Ha Noi FC also struggled to reproduce their first-half attacking threat, with neither side finding the breakthrough despite their efforts. As the match progressed, Kyoto Sanga appeared increasingly comfortable with sharing the points, allowing them to maintain their position in the upper half of the East Region standings while managing their workload amid a demanding J.League schedule.
The final whistle confirmed a goalless draw, leaving Cong An Ha Noi FC with four points from four league-stage matches following one victory, one draw and two defeats. Although the Vietnamese side extended their unbeaten run in the competition to two matches, their failure to capitalise on several first-half opportunities prevented them from taking a more significant step towards the qualification places.
With four league-stage fixtures remaining, Polking’s team still have opportunities to compete for a place among the East Region’s top eight. However, the draw against Kyoto Sanga underlined the importance of improving their finishing if they are to turn competitive performances into the victories needed to reach the AFC Champions League Elite knockout stage.
VSN/RPT
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