Newcomer Bac Ninh stuns defending Cup champion Cong An TP.HCM in V-League Round 2

Bac Ninh created one of the biggest shocks of the early 2026-2027 V-League season by defeating Cong An TP.HCM 1-0 at home on the evening of September 11. This is the historic first victory of the newly promoted Bac Ninh in Vietnam's top flight, after they lost 3-1 to Hai Phong in the opening round while playing with 10 men. Conversely, Cong An TP.HCM – the defending Cup champion – entered the match on a high after beating Hanoi FC 3-1 in round 1. However, coach Arthur Diles' side could not break through the hosts' solid defense. The match was one-sided from the start. Cong An TP.HCM dominated possession and continuously mounted attacks but lacked sharpness in the final third. Bac Ninh deliberately played defensive counter-attacking football, compacting their formation in their own half and waiting for opportunities. In the 18th minute, from a quick counter, Brazilian striker Brenner headed the ball past goalkeeper Le Giang Patrik to open the scoring. It was Brenner's first goal for Bac Ninh since joining. After conceding, Cong An TP.HCM pushed forward aggressively. They created a series of clear chances. In the 32nd minute, Nguyen Tien Linh scored but was ruled offside. Early in the second half, Van Toan missed a one-on-one opportunity. In the 54th minute, Bac Ninh goalkeeper Nguyen Van Cong made a spectacular diving save to deny Tien Linh. In the 61st minute, Le Giang Patrik kept his team in the game by pushing away a shot from Vitao. Vitao also had a goal disallowed for offside. Coach Arthur Diles made three simultaneous substitutions in the 64th minute, bringing on fresh players to boost the attack. Nevertheless, Bac Ninh held firm. In the 81st minute, Cong An replaced both foreign imports Raphael and Mota with local players, but to no effect. In stoppage time, they had two more dangerous headers – one saved brilliantly by Van Cong, the other going over the bar. The match ended 1-0. This victory not only gives Bac Ninh three precious points but also fuels their survival hopes. Meanwhile, Cong An TP.HCM now faces significant pressure after losing to a much weaker opponent. They showed over-reliance on Tien Linh and a lack of efficiency in finishing. For Bac Ninh, the tactic of mass defense and capitalizing on opportunities paid off, especially the role of foreign duo Brenner and Vitao. This may become a difficult puzzle for other teams facing coach Nguyen Minh Duc's side. The match also witnessed passionate home support, creating a festive atmosphere. Bac Ninh currently sits 8th on the table, while Cong An TP.HCM dropped to 7th. In the next round, Bac Ninh will visit Thanh Hoa, while Cong An TP.HCM host Hai Phong.