PVF-CAND creates a big shock, foreign duo defeats SLNA: What could be a sweeter greeting to V-League!

Replacing Binh Phuoc to fill Quang Nam's gap, PVF-CAND was not overwhelmed by early promotion.

In V-League 2025 - 2026, PVF-CAND Club is one of 2 new players, winning a place to participate due to Quang Nam's dissolution and Binh Phuoc (now Truong Tuoi Dong Nai Club) refusing to be promoted. However, this team has less than 2 weeks to prepare, with only a friendly match against The Cong Viettel Club. Despite not having much time, PVF-CAND Club has continuously brought in quality new players such as naturalized striker Hoang Vu Samson, foreign players Amarildo, Eyenga Alain and Mpande. At the same time, with a squad of quality young players such as Thanh Nhan, Xuan Bac, Hieu Minh, the strength of PVF-CAND Club cannot be underestimated.

On the other side of the front line, SLNA Club has a lot of experience in V-League. The preparation of the Nghe An team also encountered obstacles when many first-team players gathered late, because they participated in the National U.21 Finals. Therefore, when playing away at PVF-CAND Club, many familiar players such as Ho Khac Ngoc, Manh Quynh, Hoang Van Khanh, Van Cuong or foreign player Olaha were still the main pillars in the playing style built by Coach Phan Nhu Thuat, playing from the start.

PHOTO: SLNA Club

With an experienced midfield, SLNA Club was the team with the better position in the first half. The away team held the ball for nearly 60% of the time, using many attacking situations in the middle to threaten the goal of PVF-CAND Club. In terms of the number of dangerous shots, SLNA Club also showed superiority with 8 shots (4 times more than PVF-CAND Club). The accuracy in the shots of coach Phan Nhu Thuat's students was also very high when half of the balls were on target. Unfortunately, goalkeeper Phi Minh Long played excellently in this half, keeping the net for PVF-CAND Club.

On the other hand, PVF-CAND played defensive counter-attacks. The lack of preparation time greatly affected the home team’s playing style, causing them to play disjointedly. Mpande was the best player in PVF-CAND’s midfield, but unfortunately the strikers on the attack line could not make good use of the passes created by this foreign player.

It seemed like the first half would end in a draw, but in the 42nd minute, a surprise happened when PVF-CAND opened the score with Amarildo's tap-in. The credit for this goal belonged to Vo Anh Quan when the player born in 2004 had a brave dribble and an accurate cross.

PHOTO: PVF-CAND Club

Trailing after the first half, SLNA Club pushed up their formation in the beginning of the second half to find an equalizer. Different from the previous short passing style, the Nghe An team made more crosses from the two wings. After many efforts, in the 59th minute, captain Olaha received a pass from his teammate on the left wing, headed the ball very hard, hitting the post. However, SLNA Club's player wearing the number 7 shirt quickly rushed in to finish, equalizing the score 1-1.

However, after the equalizer, SLNA Club could not maintain the pressure as before. The away team's midfield could not control the ball while the two wings were continuously exploited. What had to happen happened, in the 67th minute, Mpande headed the ball close to the goal, raising the score to 2-1 for PVF CAND Club.

PHOTO: PVF-CAND Club

In the last 20 minutes, PVF-CAND played slowly, completely giving up the game to their opponents. However, SLNA was stuck and could not penetrate PVF-CAND's net. Worse for the away team, defender Justin Julian Garcia received a red card for deliberately kicking PVF-CAND striker Amarildo. Previously, he had only received a yellow card but the decision was changed after referee Do Anh Duc consulted VAR (the VAR referee was referee Hoang Ngoc Ha).

Defeating SLNA Club 2-1, PVF-CAND Club has the first 3 points in V-League 2025 - 2026. Coach Thach Bao Khanh's students rose to 4th place and have the same number of points as Becamex Ho Chi Minh City Club, Ho Chi Minh City Police Club, Nam Dinh Club and Ninh Binh Club. In the second round, PVF-CAND Club will visit Hai Phong's field. Meanwhile, SLNA Club fell to 13th place and will face Nam Dinh Club in the next match.