Nam Định Hold Top Spot After Late Win as V.League 1 Reaches FIFA Break

What happened

Thép Xanh Nam Định ended round 7 of LPBank V.League 1-2026/27 at the top of the table, according to the league's governing body VPF, after a dramatic late victory over Hồng Lĩnh Hà Tĩnh. No change at the summit occurred during the round, but VPF described the standings below first place as extremely tight following a series of closely fought matches.

Report details

Nam Định's win came away to Hồng Lĩnh Hà Tĩnh, who had impressed with their form since the start of the season but fell behind very early. The visitors played much of the second half with ten men after defender Hồng Duy was sent off, and Hà Tĩnh equalised only late through Luiz Antonio. In the final moments of stoppage time, Caio Cesar — scorer of the opening goal — set up Văn Vĩ for the decisive strike that secured all three points for Vũ Hồng Việt's side. It was Nam Định's fourth consecutive win, three of which have come away from home; VPF noted that three of their five wins this season have been on the road, against Thanh Hóa, Thành Phố Đồng Nai and now Hà Tĩnh. The result lets Nam Định go into the FIFA Days break in first place regardless of other results.

Công an Hà Nội ended a run of three matches without a win by beating Công an TP.HCM 2-1 at Hàng Đẫy. VPF reported that the match was difficult for the home side, who showed signs of fatigue from competing in both continental and domestic competitions, while Công an TP.HCM proved hard to break down with their counter-attacking style. A double from Alan Grafite, the league's top scorer in each of the past two seasons, kept the three points at Hàng Đẫy and lifted Công an Hà Nội to second place, two points behind Nam Định.

Ninh Bình also returned to winning ways in round 7. Under Chu Đình Nghiêm, they opened against newcomers Bắc Ninh with a free-kick strike from centre-back Lucas Henrique Turci, who had just returned from a disciplinary suspension. Bắc Ninh levelled through an own goal by Đức Chiến, but Lê Phát restored Ninh Bình's lead with a header. It was Lê Phát's third goal of the season, making him the highest-scoring domestic player in the league so far, according to VPF.

At Lạch Tray, Hải Phòng and Sông Lam Nghệ An produced a back-and-forth contest. Milan Makaric, the league's leading scorer, put Hải Phòng ahead early, but a quick double from Luiz Guilherme Vieira Da Silva — described by VPF as one of Sông Lam Nghệ An's discoveries this season — turned the game for Văn Sỹ Sơn's team. Hải Phòng pushed forward for an equaliser and got it midway through the second half when Hữu Sơn reacted quickest after a challenge involving Makaric. Hải Phòng finished the match with ten men after Mạnh Dũng received a second yellow card, but held on for 2-2. Sông Lam Nghệ An were somewhat disappointed not to take all three points but maintained their unbeaten run and kept their place in the top three.

After round 7, LPBank V.League 1-2026/27 pauses for nearly two weeks to allow the national team to fulfil FIFA Days commitments in November. VPF said round 8 is eagerly awaited given the events of round 7.