Ninh Binh, 1 November 2025 – Nguyen Hoang Duc converted a first-half penalty to help Ninh Binh draw 1-1 with Ho Chi Minh City FC in Round 9 of V.League 1 2025-2026, maintaining their unbeaten streak since the start of the season and extending it to 29 matches across all competitions.
Ninh Binh continued their impressive run in V.League 1 2025-2026 with a 1-1 draw against Ho Chi Minh City FC on the evening of November 1, a result that kept them top of the table with 21 points after six wins and three draws. They now lead Hanoi Police FC by one point, though having played one more game. Including their time in the second division last season, Ninh Binh are unbeaten in 29 consecutive matches, a remarkable achievement for the newly promoted side.
Playing at home, Ninh Binh took control early and were awarded a penalty in the 15th minute after Tran Thanh Trung, a Vietnamese-born player from Bulgaria, made a daring run through the middle and was fouled by Tran Dinh Khuong inside the box. The challenge left Thanh Trung with a soft tissue injury to his left shin, forcing him off just five minutes later.
From the spot, Hoang Duc calmly slotted the ball into the bottom left corner, sending goalkeeper Tran Minh Toan the wrong way. It was the fourth goal of the season for the star midfielder, who has also contributed six assists, meaning he has been directly involved in 10 of Ninh Binh’s goals so far. His all-around influence places him ahead of Hanoi Police FC striker Alan Sebastiao, who has nine goal contributions.
This tally also marks Hoang Duc’s best individual start to a V.League 1 season, equaling his total from both the 2022 and 2023 campaigns, with 17 rounds still remaining to surpass his personal record.
However, Ninh Binh lost their momentum after halftime. In the 53rd minute, Nguyen Tran Viet Cuong dribbled past four defenders but was denied twice by Dang Van Lam, who made a double save. Yet the visitors found their equalizer in the 77th minute when Vo Minh Trong controlled a long pass and teed up Oduenyi, whose powerful left-footed strike beat Van Lam despite the keeper’s touch.
The match ended 1-1, ensuring Ninh Binh’s unbeaten streak continued, though they dropped valuable points in their title chase. Meanwhile, Ho Chi Minh City FC remain in ninth place with eight points, while Song Lam Nghe An and Da Nang—who drew 1-1 in a simultaneous fixture—sit just behind with seven points apiece.
Despite the draw, Ninh Binh’s disciplined play and Hoang Duc’s leadership continue to position them as serious contenders for the V.League 1 championship in only their first season back in the top flight.
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