CAHN could easily force Hanoi FC to 'raise the white flag'

This weekend's Round 15 could mark a pivotal moment in the whole season, with the capital "derby" between Hanoi FC and CAHN meaning more than just three points. Should they continue their unbeaten run and overcome their local opponents, Coach Alexandre Polking's team will significantly increase the pressure on the chasing pack.

This is not only the highlight of Round 15, a capital derby for honor, but also a match that could determine the championship race's landscape. CAHN is demonstrating near-absolute dominance. With 35 points from 13 matches, 11 wins and 2 draws, they are the only team undefeated since the start of the season.

Notably, Quang Hai and his teammates have also played one match fewer than Hanoi FC. The 14-point gap between the two sides at this moment is akin to a chasm. A victory in Round 15 would allow Coach Polking's men to widen the lead to a seemingly insurmountable margin. In that case, the championship title could arrive much earlier than anticipated.

On the flip side, Hanoi FC sits in 4th place with 21 points from 14 matches. A club that once held the record of six V-League titles in Vietnamese football now faces the risk of "raising the white flag" barely halfway through the new season.

The investment from Chairman Hien for Hanoi FC has never waned, yet the trophies seem increasingly elusive. For this match, Coach Harry Kewell's team will also be missing forward Daniel Passira due to a red card in last week's loss to The Cong Viettel. This loss puts even more pressure on an already blunt attack, relying on Hoang Hen, Tuan Hai, and Hai Long.

Coach Kewell's team must win to keep their hopes alive. However, facing a CAHN side playing organized, disciplined, and high-speed football makes that task extremely difficult. This will be a test of character for the former champions. Hanoi FC must either explode into form to cling to hope or accept watching their rivals race towards the finish line.

Meanwhile, second-placed The Cong Viettel (28 points) also cannot afford to slip up when they visit Becamex TP.HCM. The home team just won the Ho Chi Minh City derby against CATP.HCM, with morale clearly boosted under the guidance of Technical Director Dang Tran Chinh.

The Cong Viettel are away but missing central defender Kyle Colonna is a major blow to their defensive system. This could be a tight, pragmatic match with few goals, where Coach Velizar Popov must prove his mettle for the long title race.

In Ninh Binh, the coaching change with Mr. Vu Tien Thanh taking charge brings hopes of a "change in fortune." Ninh Binh FC has 27 points but has lost three consecutive matches, so their current form is a big question mark.

Ninh Binh's opponent, SHB Da Nang, though bottom of the table with 10 points, just defeated PVF CAND in a "relegation six-pointer," significantly improving their spirit. On paper, the advantage lies with the hosts, but if they fail to use this early match to pressure the top group, Ninh Bình will make things harder for themselves.

In the lower group, HAGL faces CATP.HCM in the absence of Technical Director Vu Tien Thanh in the dugout. HAGL has 14 points, ranks 11th out of 14, and is only 4 points above SHB Da Nang. A stumble could plunge them deeper into the relegation battle. CATP.HCM, after two consecutive losses, is also eager to regain a winning streak to stay in the medal chase. However, the absence of key central defender Gia Bao will make things tough for the visitors against the home attack.

The early match between Thanh Hoa (13 points) and Hong Linh Ha Tinh (17 points) is also noteworthy. Thanh Hoa needs a victory to escape 12th place and put pressure on the group above.

Meanwhile, Hong Linh Ha Tinh is pragmatic enough to aim for at least a point. Similarly, their neighboring team SLNA could also share points with Hai Phong when playing at home in Vinh this week.

PVF CAND faces a major challenge against Nam Dinh. The defending champions are having a poor season with only 15 points from 14 matches, languishing in 9th place. Their victory over Ninh Binh in the previous round offered Coach Vu Hong Viet some relief.

With striker Xuan Son rediscovering his scoring touch, Nam Dinh has the capability to add to the woes of the hosts, who are currently second from bottom with 11 points.