On the evening of June 12, at Ha Tinh stadium on the evening of June 12, PVF-CAND entered a do-or-die match with Bac Ninh FC in the play-off match to compete for a V.League 2026-2027 spot.
However, against a very eager Bac Ninh, the Police sector team could not break the jinx that had lasted for many seasons.
The first half witnessed the proactiveness of the Kinh Bac team. In the 33rd minute, foreign player Bruno Cunha coldly defeated goalkeeper Sy Huy from the penalty spot to open the score 1-0 for Bac Ninh. Before that, Ngan Van Dai, the opponent, was fouled in the penalty area.
After the break, PVF-CAND pushed up the squad to find an equalizer. Their efforts were rewarded when Hoang Vu Samson jumped high to head the ball into Bac Ninh's net, bringing the match back to the starting line.
The two teams could not determine the winner in official playing time, forcing them to enter the penalty shootout. Unfortunately, PVF-CAND lost 4-5 after 3 missed turns, accepting to watch Bac Ninh win the right to participate in the V.League next season.
Notably, this is the 3rd time this team has fallen in the play-off match. In 2019, when they were still named Pho Hien, they lost to Thanh Hoa 0-1 in the V.League 2020 ticket match. In the 2023-2024 season, PVF-CAND (runner-up of the First Division) continued to lose to Hong Linh Ha Tinh with a score of 2-3.
In the 2025-2026 season, PVF-CAND was given the opportunity to play in the V.League after Quang Nam club dissolved. However, after only one season participating in the highest level of Vietnamese football, coach Tran Tien Dai's team had to return to the First Division.
3 times entering the play-off and 3 times empty-handed have turned this into an unforgettable memory for PVF-CAND.
