Song Lam Nghe An and Cong An Ho Chi Minh City played out a 1-1 draw in the Vietnam National Champion League on 11 October 2026, a result that satisfied neither side’s ambition in the V.League 1 title race but still delivered plenty of intensity at Vinh Stadium.

Match overview

Song Lam Nghe An started with energy, pressing CAHN high and looking to use the width of the pitch. The hosts took the lead in the 34th minute when Nguyen Van Tung timed his run perfectly to meet a low cross and steer the ball past the goalkeeper. It was a goal that reflected SLNA’s bright opening spell.

CAHN grew into the game after the break and began to control possession. Their equaliser arrived in the 76th minute through Tran Minh Hoa, who found space just outside the box and curled a fine left-footed effort into the bottom corner. Neither team could find a winner in the closing stages, despite late pressure from both sides.

Key moments

• 34' – Song Lam Nghe An 1-0: Nguyen Van Tung finished off a flowing move with a precise first-time strike.
• 58' – CAHN pressure: A double save from the SLNA goalkeeper kept the hosts ahead after a spell of CAHN dominance.
• 76' – Cong An Ho Chi Minh City 1-1: Tran Minh Hoa curled a superb equaliser from the edge of the area.
• 90+3' – Late chance: SLNA headed narrowly wide from a corner as the game ended level.

Tactical story

SLNA set up in a flexible 4-2-3-1 that became a 4-4-2 without the ball. Their plan was to press CAHN’s deep midfielders and launch quick attacks through the channels. It worked well in the first half, but as the game wore on, the home side dropped deeper and invited pressure.

CAHN used a patient 4-3-3, circulating the ball and trying to isolate their wide forwards in one-on-one situations. Their equaliser came from exactly that kind of patient probing, with Tran Minh Hoa drifting into a pocket of space between the lines. CAHN will feel they did enough to win, but SLNA’s defensive resilience kept the score level.

Standout players

Nguyen Van Tung was sharp for SLNA, leading the line with intelligent movement and taking his goal well. The SLNA goalkeeper also deserved credit for a series of saves that preserved the draw. For CAHN, Tran Minh Hoa was the standout performer, dictating tempo in midfield and producing the moment of quality that levelled the match.

What it means for the V.League 1 standings

The draw keeps both clubs in the upper reaches of the Vietnam National Champion League table, but it also gives rivals a chance to close the gap. CAHN remain among the teams expected to challenge for the title, while SLNA’s unbeaten home run continues. With the season still developing, both sides will know that dropped points in matches like this can prove costly in the race for top positions.