The Cong-Viettel and Bac Ninh played out an entertaining 2-2 draw in the Vietnam National Champion League on Friday, 23 October 2026, as a late equaliser punished the hosts for failing to close out a two-goal lead in Hanoi.

Match overview

The Cong-Viettel, one of the established powers in the Vietnam National Champion League — widely known as the V.League 1 — started with the greater urgency and looked capable of turning their early pressure into a comfortable home victory. The hosts moved the ball quickly through midfield, pressed Bac Ninh high up the pitch and created the first clear openings of the night.

Bac Ninh survived that early spell and grew into the contest after the interval. The visitors changed their shape, found more space in wide areas and produced a much stronger second-half display. Having trailed by two goals, they scored once to spark belief and then found a dramatic late equaliser to secure a point that their improved second-half performance deserved.

Key moments

• 17th minute: The Cong-Viettel took the lead after a sustained spell of possession, finishing calmly from inside the penalty area following a cut-back from the right.
• 41st minute: Bac Ninh threatened on the counter-attack, forcing the home goalkeeper into a low save at the near post.
• 54th minute: The Cong-Viettel doubled their advantage from a corner, with a powerful header finding the bottom corner to make it 2-0.
• 67th minute: Bac Ninh pulled one back with a quick break, finishing low across goal after the home defence was caught too high up the pitch.
• 88th minute: The visitors equalised from a well-worked move down the left, as a substitute forward arrived in the box to convert a precise cross and silence the home crowd.

Tactical story

The Cong-Viettel’s first-half performance was built on control and intensity. Their midfield won most of the second balls, the full-backs pushed high and the front line repeatedly isolated Bac Ninh’s centre-backs. It was a classic home performance: territorial dominance, quick circulation and enough chances to put the game beyond reach.

The match shifted after half-time. Bac Ninh adjusted their pressing lines, compacted the central corridor and began to attack the space behind The Cong-Viettel’s advanced full-backs. That tactical change gave the visitors a route back into the game. Once they scored the first goal, The Cong-Viettel dropped deeper, and the contest became a test of nerve rather than pure quality. The late equaliser came from exactly the kind of wide overload Bac Ninh had been building towards after the break.

Standout performers

The Cong-Viettel’s central midfielder was the best player on the pitch for long spells, setting the tempo and breaking up Bac Ninh’s counter-attacks. The home captain also led by example at the back until the closing stages. For Bac Ninh, the substitute who changed the game in the second half deserves much of the credit, while the goalkeeper kept his side within touching distance with two important saves before the comeback was completed.

What the draw means

The result feels like two dropped points for The Cong-Viettel, who will be frustrated by their failure to protect a 2-0 lead at home. In the Vietnam National Champion League standings, such lapses can prove costly in the race for the top positions. For Bac Ninh, the draw is a clear sign of resilience and a valuable away point against one of the league’s stronger sides.

Both teams will now turn to their next fixtures with different emotions: The Cong-Viettel need to rediscover their game management, while Bac Ninh can take confidence from a second-half performance that turned a difficult night into a memorable comeback.