The V-League monument collapsed in an unexpected way

Last night (June 7), the league ended with a final round that was eagerly awaited but brought no additional shocks. SHB Da Nang pulled off a remarkable survival act, PVF-CAND claimed the right to play in the promotion-relegation playoff with an assertive display, and Becamex Ho Chi Minh City formally said goodbye to the top tier of Vietnamese football after over twenty years.

While the championship race had already been decided early with CAHN taking the title, the battle at both ends of the standings kept the entire V-League on edge until the very last moments.

The biggest focus was on the relegation fight among SHB Da Nang, PVF-CAND, and Becamex Ho Chi Minh City. Before kickoff, all three teams had 21 points, but SHB Da Nang held the greatest advantage due to superior head-to-head results. A win against Thanh Hoa at their home ground Chi Lang would allow the Han River club to control their own destiny.

Coach Le Duc Tuan's squad accomplished this in the most convincing manner possible. In the electric atmosphere at Chi Lang, the hosts played with determination and passion against a Thanh Hoa side that had lost their motivation. Milan Makaric once again became the hero, opening the scoring in the 24th minute. In the second half, Ribamar, Joel Lopez, and Hong Phuoc each found the net, securing a 4-0 victory for SHB Da Nang and clinching their survival spot on their own terms.

If Da Nang staged a spectacular escape, PVF-CAND also completed their mission to keep their survival hopes alive. At Vinh Stadium, Coach Tran Tien Dai's team dominated SLNA from the start, as the hosts had no remaining objectives and fielded many young players.

The hero for PVF-CAND was striker Eid Mahmoud. He scored two goals in the first half before Xuan Bac made it 3-0 in the second half. A consolation goal from Long Vu was merely a matter of pride for SLNA in a 1-3 defeat.

The victory gave PVF-CAND 24 points, the same as SHB Da Nang, but they finished 13th due to an inferior head-to-head record. However, the team still has a chance to stay in the V-League by playing a playoff match against Bac Ninh, the second-placed team in the first division this season. That club is advised by Coach Park Hang-seo.

All the disappointment fell on Becamex Ho Chi Minh City. The Thu Dau Mot side entered the final round with slim hopes and ultimately could not defy fate. At Binh Duong Stadium, Becamex Ho Chi Minh City defeated HAGL 3-1 with goals from Bui Vi Hao, Viet Cuong, and Ugochukwu. It was a match where the home players gave their all with pride and a final burst of desire.

Bui Vi Hao opened the scoring in the 4th minute with his first goal since returning from injury. Viet Cuong made it 2-1 with a beautiful long-range strike, and Ugochukwu sealed the 3-1 victory late in the game. Yet, in the stands at Binh Duong, the atmosphere remained heavy due to constant updates from Chi Lang and Vinh Stadium.

When SHB Da Nang led 4-0 and PVF-CAND won 3-1, everyone understood that Becamex Ho Chi Minh City's victory was merely a consolation.

The team once dubbed "Vietnam's Chelsea," four-time national champions and the second most traditional club after Hanoi FC, was officially relegated. This is a painful but not unexpected ending for Coach Hua Hien Vinh and his squad.

Looking back at the entire season, Becamex Ho Chi Minh City squandered their own opportunities. From March until the end of the season, the club won only one match. They possessed quality players like Minh Toan, Tung Quoc, Tan Tai, Minh Khoa, Viet Cuong, and U23 Vietnam star Bui Vi Hao, but lacked consistency, composure, and a clear direction.

Coach Hua Hien Vinh secured his first win with the club in the final round, but it was all too late. In football, no team is relegated because of a single match. Becamex Ho Chi Minh City paid the price for a long journey marked by instability and a football approach that had revealed many shortcomings over the years.

After the match, Bui Vi Hao choked up as he apologized to the fans. The young striker admitted the whole team was deeply saddened that they could not keep the club in the top flight, despite fighting until the very end. Those words only added to the sorrow of football in the Thu Dau Mot region.

At the top of the table, the medal race also ended in thrilling fashion. The Cong Viettel defeated newly crowned champions CAHN 1-0 to claim the runners-up spot with 54 points. The only goal from Hoang Minh helped Coach Popov's team overcome the pressure from Ninh Binh in the battle for second place.

Meanwhile, newcomers Ninh Binh capped off a memorable season with a 3-0 win over Hong Linh Ha Tinh to finish with the bronze medal, totaling 51 points. Hanoi FC, despite drawing 1-1 with CATP Ho Chi Minh City at Hang Day Stadium, ended up in fourth place.

A costly defeat to HAGL in the penultimate round cost Coach Harry Kewell's team control of their own destiny in the top-three race. CATP Ho Chi Minh City finished the season in fifth place with 36 points, just one point ahead of Nam Dinh after the latter drew 1-1 with Hai Phong at Lach Tray.

  Viet Ha