Becamex TP.HCM Relegated from V-League After 22 Years

Becamex TP.HCM's 22-year V-League tenure ended in heartbreak as they were relegated following a 3-1 victory over Hoang Anh Gia Lai in the season's final round. Despite the win, the team could not overcome their poor head-to-head record against direct rivals, sealing their fate.

Early goals from Bui Vi Hao and Tran Gia Bao set a tense tone for the match. While Becamex TP.HCM took the lead, Hoang Anh Gia Lai equalized, creating an unfavorable situation. Simultaneously, rivals Da Nang and PVF-CAND were also securing crucial wins, rendering Becamex TP.HCM's efforts insufficient.

Although Nguyen Tran Viet Cuong and foreign player Oduenyi Ugochukwu scored to give the home crowd something to cheer about, the 3-1 scoreline was a hollow victory. Becamex TP.HCM finished level on 24 points with Da Nang and PVF-CAND but fell to 14th place due to tiebreaker rules. Da Nang narrowly avoided the drop, finishing 12th, while PVF-CAND will face a playoff.

The relegation marks a somber end for a club that once dominated Vietnamese professional football, boasting four V-League titles and participation in the AFC Champions League. The fall to the second division is a significant blow to the club's legacy and its supporters.