XM Hai Phong FC produced a clinical away performance in the Vietnam National Champion League, beating Hoang Anh Gia Lai 3-1 at Pleiku Stadium on Sunday, 13 September 2026. The visitors absorbed early pressure, struck with devastating efficiency and then controlled the closing stages to take all three points from one of the most demanding road trips in Vietnamese football.

Match overview

Hoang Anh Gia Lai began the game with the confidence of a home side, pushing their full-backs forward and looking to establish possession in the opposition half. The opening 20 minutes belonged largely to the hosts, who moved the ball well but found the final pass difficult to locate against a compact and disciplined defensive block.

The game turned on Hai Phong's ability to punish mistakes. Their three goals came from a combination of sharp pressing and swift transitions, and once they had the lead they managed the match intelligently, slowing the tempo and denying Hoang Anh Gia Lai the space to mount a sustained comeback.

Key moments

• 13' – Hoang Anh Gia Lai's best early chance, a shot from the edge of the area deflected wide off a defender's leg.
• 26' – 0-1 XM Hai Phong. A high press forces a misplaced pass at the back and the loose ball is swept home from just inside the box.
• 39' – 0-2 XM Hai Phong. A fast counter-attack down the right ends with a low cross converted at the back post.
• 56' – 1-2. Hoang Anh Gia Lai pull one back, a well-directed header from a corner that gives the home crowd belief.
• 74' – 1-3 XM Hai Phong. The two-goal cushion is restored with a composed finish on the break, extinguishing the home side's momentum.
• 88' – A late free-kick for Hoang Anh Gia Lai sails over the bar as the visitors see the game out.

Tactical story

Hai Phong's game plan was built on defensive organisation and rapid counter-attacking. They defended in a mid-to-low block, invited Hoang Anh Gia Lai to commit players forward and then attacked the vacated space with direct, vertical passing. It is a demanding approach that requires discipline for 90 minutes, and the visitors delivered it almost flawlessly.

Hoang Anh Gia Lai's difficulty was structural. With both full-backs advanced, they were vulnerable to quick breaks, and their midfield struggled to provide cover once possession was lost. Their goal from a corner showed they carried a genuine threat from set pieces, but too many attacking moves broke down in the final third, where Hai Phong's centre-backs defended their penalty area with authority.

Standout players

Hai Phong's forward line was razor sharp, converting three of the small number of clear chances the team created. The defensive midfielders were equally important, repeatedly breaking up play and launching the counters that produced the goals, while the goalkeeper handled crosses confidently throughout.

For Hoang Anh Gia Lai, the goalscorer from the corner was their most effective performer, and their left-sided attacker created several promising situations with direct running. The captain worked tirelessly in midfield, but the support around him was too often static.

What the result means

An away win of this quality has real value in the Vietnam National Champion League, where travel, climate and hostile atmospheres make road fixtures notoriously difficult. Hai Phong move forward with confidence and a healthier goal difference, having shown they can win in more than one way.

For Hoang Anh Gia Lai, the defeat is a reminder of the fine margins at the top level of Vietnamese football. Their build-up play was often attractive, but converting territorial control into goals remains the central challenge, and addressing the vulnerability to counter-attacks will be the priority on the training ground this week.