The confrontation at Binh Phuoc Stadium on the evening of October 26 is considered the focal match of the round when both teams are in the group competing for the championship.
Truong Tuoi Dong Nai with a team of experienced players such as Minh Vuong, Xuan Truong faced Bac Ninh - a team that owned familiar names in the previous V.League such as Duc Chinh, Hai Huy.
However, the game was tight and there were not many clear opportunities created. Both teams mainly competed in midfield, causing the first half to end without any goals.
Entering the second half, the situation did not improve. The heavy rain caused the Binh Phuoc stadium to be waterlogged, slowing down the pace of the match and making the technical handling of the players on both sides inaccurate.
Although coaches Viet Thang from Truong Tuoi Dong Nai and Paulo Foiani of Bac Ninh both sent more strikers to improve their attack, the deadlock still existed until the final whistle.
The 0-0 draw put Truong Tuoi Dong Nai at 11 points, 1 point behind the leader Khanh Hoa and behind Ho Chi Minh City due to a goal difference. Meanwhile, Bac Ninh maintained 4th place with 9 points, equal to Quang Ninh but with a better head-to-head record.
This draw not only caused Truong Tuoi Dong Nai to lose the top spot but also showed that coach Viet Thang's team needs to improve their attacking ability if they want to return to the championship race. With a squad of quality players, they are still expected to regain their form in the coming rounds.
