In the context that both teams are aiming to improve their position in the rankings, the match took place at a fairly high pace right after the opening whistle.
The home team Ho Chi Minh City Police were the ones who started more proactively. In the 7th minute, Paulo put the ball into the net of The Cong Viettel with a close-range header. However, after considering the situation, the referee determined that this player was offside and did not recognize the goal.
Escaping defeat by a hair's breadth, The Cong Viettel gradually regained control of the game. The army team organized many sharp counter-attacks and created significant pressure on the opponent's half of the field.
In the 35th minute, the away team's efforts were rewarded. From a central attack situation, Nham Manh Dung chose a reasonable position before finishing accurately, defeating the opponent's goalkeeper to open the scoring.
Having a goal lead, The Cong Viettel played solidly and controlled the game well for most of the remaining time of the match. Meanwhile, Ho Chi Minh City Police had many difficulties in approaching the opponent's goal.
In the second half, the home team pushed up the squad to find an equalizer. Personnel and playing style adjustments helped Ho Chi Minh City Police create greater pressure on The Cong Viettel's goal.
As the match drifted to the final minutes, the home team's efforts were finally rewarded. In the 85th minute, from a central attack combination, Tien Linh appeared at the right time in the penalty area to unleash an accurate finish, equalizing the score 1-1.
The remaining minutes witnessed tit-for-tat attacks from both teams. However, neither side successfully took advantage of the opportunity to score more goals.
In the end, Ho Chi Minh City Police and The Cong Viettel drew 1-1. This result helps The Cong Viettel have 51 points after 25 rounds, continuing to rank 2nd in the rankings. Meanwhile, Ho Chi Minh City Police have 35 points and hold 5th place.
