Thái Nguyên came from behind twice to beat Becamex TP.HCM 3-2 in Bình Dương on 23 October 2026 (18:00 kick-off, Vietnam time) in round 4 of Vietnam's First Division 2026/27, also known as V.League 2. Victor Mansaray scored twice against his former club and Nguyễn Đình Thịnh got the winner in the 85th minute. The newly promoted leaders have a perfect 12 points from four games and are 4 clear of Khánh Hòa, while Becamex suffered their first defeat of the season. On the same day Quy Nhơn United beat Lâm Đồng 4-0 and Khánh Hòa drew 1-1 with Thép Cần Thơ.
A see-saw second half
Heavy rain left the pitch waterlogged and forced both teams into long balls, Thanh Niên reported, and the first half was goalless. Becamex came closest in the 4th minute, when Daniel Dos Anjos headed against the bar, according to Bongdaplus.
Two minutes after the restart, in the 47th minute, German-Vietnamese centre-back Adriano Schmidt headed in a free kick from Võ Hoàng Minh Khoa. Becamex missed chances to double the lead, and in the 72nd minute Đình Thịnh skipped past defender Nguyễn Trọng Sơn and squared for Mansaray to equalise, SGGP wrote. Shortly afterwards referee Trần Văn Điền gave Becamex a penalty when Đỗ Minh Quân brought down Dos Anjos, who converted it himself for 2-1. Thanh Niên and Bongdaplus give different minutes for the penalty.
The lead lasted only a few minutes. Mansaray rose to head in a cross from the right for 2-2, and in the 85th minute Dương Đình Nguyên slipped through three defenders and set up Đình Thịnh to finish for 3-2. Hoàng Vũ Samson hit the bar with a late header for the hosts.
An old acquaintance returns
According to SGGP, Mansaray played for Becamex in the 2019 V-League and again in 2020-2021, but the club terminated his contract twice over issues with his attitude and lifestyle. After his first goal he celebrated pointedly towards the Becamex bench and the VIP stand, and Thái Nguyên coach Phạm Minh Đức ran over to calm him down. Thanh Niên said the equaliser was the American's 8th goal in four First Division games.
Elsewhere and the table
Khánh Hòa led Thép Cần Thơ through a 15th-minute Kurakin penalty before Thaileon levelled in the 28th, Bongdaplus reported. Quy Nhơn United earned their first win of the season with goals from Gia Việt (33rd minute), Long Vũ (64th), Thanh Luân (71st) and Thanh Phong (75th).
Standings from Sportmonks data after the games of 23 October 2026:
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thái Nguyên | 4 | +8 | 12 |
| 2 | Khánh Hòa | 4 | +4 | 8 |
| 3 | Hưng Yên | 3 | +10 | 7 |
| 4 | Becamex TP.HCM | 4 | +2 | 7 |
| 5 | PVF-CAND | 4 | -1 | 7 |
| 6 | Đại học Văn Hiến | 4 | -1 | 7 |
| 7 | Bình Minh Sài Gòn | 4 | 0 | 6 |
| 8 | Thép Cần Thơ | 4 | -1 | 5 |
| 9 | Quy Nhơn United | 4 | +1 | 4 |
| 10 | TP.HCM | 3 | -1 | 3 |
| 11 | Lâm Đồng | 4 | -4 | 3 |
| 12 | Long An | 3 | -2 | 1 |
| 13 | Huế | 3 | -5 | 1 |
| 14 | Xuân Thiện Phú Thọ | 4 | -10 | 1 |
Thái Nguyên have scored 12 goals and conceded 4 in wins over Quy Nhơn United, Bình Minh Sài Gòn, Huế and Becamex.
What comes next
Round 4 will finish with Huế v TP.HCM at 15:30 on 24 October 2026 and Hưng Yên v Long An at 18:00 the same day; Hưng Yên have a game in hand and would pass Becamex with a win. In round 5, Becamex will host Thép Cần Thơ at 18:00 on 27 October 2026, Khánh Hòa will meet Bình Minh Sài Gòn at 17:00 the same day, and Thái Nguyên will visit Long An at 15:30 on 28 October 2026.
More Vietnam football news. Related: CAND edge Phú Thọ 3-2 in round 4 and our V.League 2 round 4 preview.
Becamex TP. Hồ Chí Minh2 – 3Thái Nguyên