Round 18 V-League 2024 - 2025: Hot but not good

V-League - Photo 1.

The Nam Dinh - Ho Chi Minh City match was tense but did not have many goals - Photo: CAO TOAN

There were not many exciting matches, some were even tense like the clash between defending champions Nam Dinh and Ho Chi Minh City at Thien Truong Stadium.

More cards than goals

With their current high form, the top team Nam Dinh is expected to easily defeat Ho Chi Minh City FC at home. Things are even more favorable for coach Vu Hong Viet and his team when the away team also has a serious loss in the goalkeeper position.

Without first-choice goalkeeper Patrik Le Giang (injured), Ho Chi Minh City FC lost second-choice goalkeeper Tran Van Tien due to a sprained ankle during the warm-up for the match. This forced coach Phung Thanh Phuong to use goalkeeper Manh Cuong, who has not played a match since the beginning of the season. However, goalkeeper Manh Cuong did not have to work too much on a day when Nam Dinh's strikers played quite poorly. Striker Van Toan (Nam Dinh) had 3 scoring opportunities in the first half but all of them were unsuccessful.

Although not highly rated, Ho Chi Minh City FC was the team that scored the opening goal in the 10th minute. Lam Ti Phong's wrong clearance on the left wing created an opportunity for defender Manh Cuong to get the ball and then pass it to Thanh Thao to break through the home team's net. Meanwhile, even with three substitutions at the beginning of the second half, Nam Dinh FC still attacked with deadlock. The home team's equalizer in the 61st minute was also quite lucky, when Romulo's free kick bounced off the wall and changed direction, leaving goalkeeper Manh Cuong helpless.

There were not many goals, the match was quite tense and there were many penalty cards. Referee Nguyen Viet Duan had to pull out 7 yellow cards and 2 red cards to warn the players and coaches of both teams. In particular, the red card in the 83rd minute for Dao Quoc Gia (HCMC) after reviewing VAR made the coaching staff and players of HCMC feel frustrated. Referee Nguyen Viet Duan thought that Dao Quoc Gia intentionally hit Tuan Anh in the face when jumping up to fight.

Ho Chi Minh City players could not keep calm after their teammate received an undeserved red card. As a result, Bui Ngoc Long made a fierce tackle on Van Vi right after that, causing players from both teams to rush into each other, forcing the coaching staff of both teams to intervene. After reviewing the VAR of this situation, referee Nguyen Viet Duan gave a red card to Romulo (Nam Dinh) and 3 yellow cards to Ngoc Long, Coach Vu Hong Viet and Coach Phung Thanh Phuong.

V-League - Photo 2.

Coach Vu Hong Viet in the match between Nam Dinh and Ho Chi Minh City - Photo: NDFC

Close pursuit

Playing after the Nam Dinh - Ho Chi Minh City match, the second-placed team Hanoi thought they could take advantage of the opportunity to defeat Hai Phong, thereby shortening the gap of 4 points with their opponents in the championship race. But in the end, the capital team could only leave Lach Tray Stadium with 1 point.

Van Quyet, Passira and Pham Tuan Hai of Hanoi Club all had chances to score in this match but could not beat goalkeeper Nguyen Van Toan (replacing Dinh Trieu) who played excellently.

Meanwhile, the home team, despite actively playing defense, also had many dangerous counterattacks. Unfortunately, Lucao and Huu Son were unable to capitalize on them. With this draw, Hai Phong FC has reason to worry in the relegation race as the gap with the second-to-last team Quy Nhon Binh Dinh has dropped from 7 points to 5 points.

At Go Dau Stadium, bottom-placed SHB Da Nang ended a three-match losing streak with a 1-1 draw against B.Binh Duong. The visitors took the lead in the third minute thanks to striker Minh Quang, but were unable to defend their lead in first-half stoppage time after Hong Son fouled Vo Hoang Minh Khoa in the penalty area. From the 11m mark, Tien Linh easily scored past goalkeeper Bui Tien Dung to equalize 1-1 for the home team.

With this result, SHB Da Nang Club continues to be stuck at the bottom of the table with 10 points after 18 matches, and the gap with the second-to-last team Quy Nhon Binh Dinh also increased to 6 points.