LPBank Securities National Cup 2025/26 Final: Ho Chi Minh City Police FC Pull Off a Miracle!

Most notably, head coach Phùng Thanh Phương and his players achieved the unthinkable by lifting the trophy away from home, defeating a highly motivated Ninh Bình side in front of their own supporters.

When Ho Chi Minh City Police FC, who finished fifth in the LPBank V.League 1-2025/26 standings, travelled to Thiên Trường Stadium to face home side Thép Xanh Nam Định in the semi-finals, few expected them to go far. However, Patrik Lê Giang and his teammates stunned the home crowd by scoring four goals in the first half and eventually claiming a 4-2 victory to book a place in the final.

The challenge became even tougher in the title decider. Ninh Bình FC, third in the league standings and fresh from a convincing 4-1 win over Thể Công Viettel in the other semi-final, had the advantage of playing the final at their fortress in Ninh Bình. Yet Ho Chi Minh City Police FC produced another upset, relying on their strengths in set pieces and a disciplined defensive counter-attacking approach to complete a fairy-tale campaign in the National Cup.

Playing away in the final, Ho Chi Minh City Police FC withstood relentless pressure from the hosts during the opening 15 minutes before striking with one of their trademark set pieces. In the 16th minute, Minh Trọng delivered a perfectly curved corner kick and Raphael rose powerfully to head home the opening goal.

Hoàng Đức and his teammates tried to reorganise and push for an equaliser. However, after losing possession in midfield, the hosts were punished again by the visitors’ lethal counter-attacking style. In the 34th minute, Williams Lee beat the offside trap, raced clear, rounded goalkeeper Văn Lâm and doubled the advantage to 2-0. It was a scenario reminiscent of the semi-final, with Ho Chi Minh City Police FC taking a commanding lead few had anticipated.

The two-goal cushion gave Phùng Thanh Phương’s men greater confidence and allowed them to maintain their disciplined defensive structure, frustrating the hosts in their attempts to break down Patrik Lê Giang’s goal. Ninh Bình poured forward in search of a comeback and finally found hope in the 74th minute after a rare defensive mistake from the visitors led to a penalty. Nguyễn Tài Lộc (formerly known as Geovane Magno Candido Silveira before obtaining Vietnamese citizenship) converted from the spot to reduce the deficit.

However, Ho Chi Minh City Police FC stood firm under intense pressure in the closing stages and held on for a deserved 2-1 victory to lift the LPBank Securities National Cup 2025/26.

On their road to glory, Ho Chi Minh City Police FC defeated Ho Chi Minh City FC in the Round of 16, Trường Tươi Đồng Nai FC in the quarter-finals, Thép Xanh Nam Định FC in the semi-finals, and finally Ninh Bình FC in the championship match.

Congratulations to Ho Chi Minh City Police FC on winning the LPBank Securities National Cup 2025/26!