Tien Linh shakes off pressure as CAHN beat Hanoi FC 3-1 in V-League 2026-2027 opener

At minute 27, the opening match was still searching for rhythm. A cross from the right flank, goalkeeper Van Chuan made a full-length save but could not push the ball away. Nguyen Tien Linh was in the right place and headed home to give Cong An TP.HCM the lead and release the psychological pressure that had been weighing on the striker. The context was a V-League 2026-2027 opener between two title contenders: CAHN and Hanoi FC. CAHN used home advantage and a higher pressing block, while Hanoi FC stayed deep. The decisive shift came in the second half. Quoc Cuong scored from outside the box in the 52nd minute, exposing Hanoi’s defensive midfield. Andrew Jung pulled one back for Hanoi in the 64th minute. Jason Cummings sealed the 3-1 win in the 83rd minute with a deflected long-range shot. The result is a strong early signal for CAHN, but the match also showed Hanoi FC can improve if they adjust their midfield protection. Tien Linh’s header is likely to revive confidence, yet consistency over the next rounds matters more than one emotional goal.