Cong An Ho Chi Minh City Overpower Song Lam Nghe An 3–1 at Home

Cong An Ho Chi Minh City returned to winning ways in emphatic fashion on May 10, 2026, thrashing Song Lam Nghe An 3–1 at the Thong Nhat Stadium. The result kept the hosts within striking distance of the V.League 1 leaders, while the visitors slumped to a fourth consecutive defeat.

Match Overview

The home side started at a blistering pace, taking the lead inside seven minutes. Winger Ho Tan Tai cut inside from the left and unleashed a powerful shot that deflected past the Nguyen Lam goalkeeper. Song Lam Nghe An equalized against the run of play in the 19th minute through a well-placed header from Phan Van Duc from a corner, but Cong An quickly regained control.

Just before halftime, striker Rafael Luiz restored the lead with a poacher's finish after a goalmouth scramble. The second half saw Cong An dominate, and Rafael Luiz completed his brace in the 67th minute, calmly converting a penalty after being brought down by Nguyen Van Quyet.

Key Moments

• 7' – Ho Tan Tai opens the scoring with a deflected strike.
• 19' – Phan Van Duc heads Song Lam level from a corner.
• 44' – Rafael Luiz pokes home from close range to make it 2–1.
• 67' – Rafael Luiz scores from the penalty spot for his second.
• 80' – Cong An's Nguyen Quang Hai hits the post with a free kick.

Performance Analysis

Cong An's high-pressing game overwhelmed Song Lam Nghe An from the first whistle. The midfield trio of Nguyen Quang Hai, Do Hung Dung, and Mai Sy Hoang controlled the center of the park, allowing the front three to wreak havoc. Song Lam's defensive line, particularly left-back Nguyen Van Quyet, had a torrid evening dealing with the pace of Ho Tan Tai and Rafael Luiz.

Standings Impact

The win lifted Cong An Ho Chi Minh City to 36 points from 25 games, moving them up to fourth place, six points behind leaders Hanoi FC. Song Lam Nghe An remained in 13th place with 19 points, now just two points above the relegation playoff zone. Their defensive fragility has been a major issue, conceding 40 goals in 25 matches.

Man of the Match: Rafael Luiz (Cong An Ho Chi Minh City) – two goals, constant menace, and a constant threat.