Hong Duy brings Nam Dinh to the top of the V-League 2023 table
Last season, Nam Dinh lost in both occasions against SLNA. But this time around, the situation is different.
After a massive recruitment period to bring in goalkeeper Tran Nguyen Manh, midfielder Nguyen Huu Tuan, full-back Nguyen Phong Hong Duy, midfielder Pham Duc Huy, Hendrio Araujo... Nam Dinh is highly appreciated for the quality of the team. image. Along with the cheers of thousands of fans on Thien Truong Stadium despite the drizzling rain that lasted from the afternoon, coach Vu Hong Viet's team played strongly.
Right from the opening, Nam Dinh rushed to strike first. The focus is on foreign soldier Hendrio when he constantly flips his wings and handles techniques. In the 15th minute, he crossed for Nnamani Samuel to head near the wall at the right position of goalkeeper Nguyen Van Hoang. Eight minutes later, Hendrio drifted to the right, turned the ball away from the SLNA defender, and then passed Nguyen Trong Dai's tape down. But when facing at close range, Nam Dinh's rookie hit goalkeeper Van Hoang.
The pressure Nam Dinh created grew bigger and bigger, causing SLNA to make mistakes leading to a goal in the 36th minute. From the indecisive handling of full-backs Pham Xuan Manh and Thai Ba Sang, the ball went to Nnamani Samuel. The Nigerian foreign soldier hit goalkeeper Van Hoang to let Hong Duy cushion the ball to open the scoring. This is Hong Duy's first goal for Nam Dinh, after moving from HAGL earlier this season.
After the break, Nam Dinh's attack was somewhat reduced due to the loss of Samuel due to injury at the end of the first half. Meanwhile, SLNA tried to push the squad high. Central defender Que Ngoc Hai is often present on the opposite side of the field to support the attack. However, due to the division with the downline, the foreign duo Olaha Michael and Jordy Kandolo of the away team did not have much acting space.
The whole match, coach Nguyen Huy Hoang's army only had two delicious opportunities, but they were both stopped by the son of Nghe, goalkeeper Tran Nguyen Manh. In the 32nd minute, Dinh Xuan Tien knocked the ball out of two Nam Dinh players, but the shot from outside the penalty area was thrown by goalkeeper Nguyen Manh, touching his fingertips. In the 71st minute, the 1.97 m tall Jordy Kandolo hit the ball high, but Nguyen Manh still managed to push the ball.
Playing faintly on the two sides, Nguyen Trong Hoang and Tran Dinh Hoang had to leave the field in the 55th minute, making room for Vuong Van Huy and Tran Nam Hai. But this duo also did not work, in which Van Huy was even nearly fired. Just two minutes after entering the field, he had to receive a yellow card for a foul on Pham Xuan Tan. Minute 83, Van Huy beat cold when pushed from behind, but referee Nguyen Manh Hai did not sanction.
After five draws, SLNA received their first loss and fell to 11th with only three points more than the bottom of the table Da Nang. Nam Dinh maintained their unbeaten record and reached the top of the table with 12 points - one point more than Hanoi and Thanh Hoa who both played a day later.
In round 7 on April 16, Nam Dinh was a guest of the Hanoi Police.
