In the opening group match of the AFC Champions League Elite on 15 September, Japan’s defending champions Gamba Osaka defeated Vietnam’s club side Công an Hà Nội (CAHN) by a clear margin. The Japanese side, fresh from a title win that included a victory over Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al‑Nassr two seasons ago, opened the scoring in the 29th minute when Usami struck from outside the box. A second goal arrived in the 58th minute as Toshida finished a cross from Yamashita, and a further tally later sealed a 3‑0 win, confirming Gamba’s dominance on home soil despite a modest domestic run of one win in six games.
CAHN entered the match on a four‑game winning streak in the AFC Champions League, unbeaten and yet to concede a goal. Their line‑up featured six foreign players and a defence anchored by Vietnamese internationals Nguyễn Filip, Bùi Hoàng Việt Anh, Đoàn Văn Hậu and Cao Pendant Quang Vinh. Văn Hậu, recently suspended for four V‑League matches, delivered a solid first‑half performance – three successful tackles, two won duels and a 6.9 rating on Sofascore – but his efforts could not prevent the early concession.
The spotlight also fell on 22‑year‑old striker Đình Bắc, the 2026 U‑23 Asian Cup top scorer and ASEAN Cup best player, who has netted ten goals in six V‑League games. Speaking before kickoff, he expressed admiration for Japanese football and a desire to test himself in the J‑League, noting that a strong showing against Gamba could open doors. While CAHN’s attack, led by Quang Hải, created chances, none found the net, leaving the Vietnamese side to regroup after a disappointing debut against a seasoned Japanese opponent.