MD2: Cong An Ha Noi FC (VIE) 0-1 Kashima Antlers (JPN)
Hanoi: Kashima Antlers moved onto six points from their first two matches in the AFC Champions League Elite 2026/27 ™ on Tuesday as Toru Oniki’s side secured a 1-0 win over hosts Cong An Ha Noi FC through Nguyen Abou…
Source: AFC · October 13, 2026 at 5:02 PM · AI-assisted report
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HANOI STADIUM, 14 OCTOBER 2026 —
Kashima Antlers secured a 1‑0 victory over Cong An Ha Noi FC in the opening match of the AFC Champions League Elite 2026/27, earning the Japanese club six points from its first two group‑stage games.
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The goal came from an own‑goal by Nguyen Abou Leygley Minh in the second half, giving Toru Oniki’s side a clean‑sheet win at the Hanoi stadium on Tuesday.
The result is significant because it places Kashima at the top of their group after two matches, while Cong An Ha Noi remain in the relegation zone of the group. The win also means the Antlers have already earned the maximum points available from the first two fixtures, a rare achievement in the elite stage of the competition.
Cong An Ha Noi entered the match with a strong recent form, having won four of their last five matches across all competitions. Their only defeat in that span came against Gamba Osaka in the AFC Champions League Elite, a 4‑1 loss.
In domestic play they beat Truong Tuoi Dong Nai, Viettel and Hong Linh Ha Tinh in the V‑League, and they had a 2‑0 away win over Adelaide United in the AFC Champions League Elite qualification. Across those five matches they scored seven goals and conceded five.
Kashima Antlers, under the management of Toru Oniki, also entered the match in good form. They had won three of their last five matches, drawn one and lost one. Their most recent outing was a 2‑0 win over Gamba Osaka in the J. League, and they had thrashed Newcastle Jets 7‑1 in the AFC Champions League Elite. Their only defeat in that run came against Vissel Kobe.
Across five matches they had scored an unspecified number of goals and conceded an unspecified number.
The match itself was decided by a single own‑goal. Nguyen Abou Leygley Minh, playing for Cong An Ha Noi, inadvertently directed a shot into his own net in the second half, giving Kashima the only goal of the game. The Antlers held a clean sheet throughout the match, and the victory was secured without the need for extra time or penalties.
Other group‑stage matches on the same day produced a range of results. In Buriram, Fabio Abreu came off the bench to score the winner as Beijing FC edged Buriram United 1‑0. In Kameoka, a late Temma Matsuda goal earned Kyoto Sanga FC a 1‑0 win against Ratchaburi FC. In Pohang, Johor Darul Ta’zim secured their first win of the competition when the Malaysian side overcame a 10‑man FC Pohang Steelers 2‑0 at the Steelyard.
In Shanghai, Diogo Oliveira struck five minutes after Prince Ampem had given hosts Shanghai Port FC the lead to earn Daejeon Hana Citizen FC a 1‑1 draw with Kevin Muscat’s Chinese Super League champions.
In Newcastle, Deniz Hummet stepped off the bench to score the crucial second for Gamba Osaka as the J1 League side came from behind to defeat hosts Newcastle Jets 3‑1, picking up back‑to‑back wins in the league phase of the AFC Champions League Elite.
The AFC’s official website provided photographs of the matches, including images of the Cong An Ha Noi FC vs. Kashima Antlers game and other fixtures. The competition’s elite stage is part of the 2026/27 AFC Champions League, and the matches are scheduled to take place across Asia.
The Antlers’ victory places them in a strong position as the group stage progresses, while Cong An Ha Noi will need to regroup after the loss. The rest of the group‑stage fixtures will determine the final standings and the teams that advance to the knockout rounds.
Related: Toru Oniki · Hanoi stadium