Dramatic win over Hai Phong, Nam Dinh Club has a smooth start to V-League

(Dan Tri) - On the opening day of V-League 2025-26, defending champion Nam Dinh came from behind to defeat Hai Phong Club with a score of 2-1 at Thien Truong Stadium on the evening of August 16.

Right before the opening match of V-League 2025-26, Nam Dinh Club announced expensive new player Percy Muzi Tau from South Africa - a striker who was valued at 4 million euros (equivalent to 122 billion VND) by Transfermarkt, showing that the Southern team is determined to defend the V-League championship this season as well as aiming to set a record of 3 consecutive V-League championships.

Nam Dinh fans packed the stadium to support their team in the opening match of the V-League (Photo: Lam Anh).

However, in the opening match, the home team at Thien Truong Stadium encountered many difficulties against Hai Phong Club when the away team pressed strongly. Coach Chu Dinh Nghiem's team was even the team that opened the score thanks to Luiz Antonio's goal in the 32nd minute.

From Hai Phong's attack on the sidelines, the ball was flipped to Antonio who jumped high and headed the ball into the net of goalkeeper Nguyen Manh. The opening goal made the away team Hai Phong play more confidently and made Nam Dinh become deadlocked for the remaining minutes of the first half.

Nam Dinh played deadlocked in the second half but completely transformed in the second half (Photo: Lam Anh).

In the second half, Nam Dinh tried to raise their attacking formation and put strong pressure on both wings. The playing style of coach Vu Hong Viet and his team brought about results when they equalized in the 68th minute.

From a pass into the penalty area, 2.06m tall striker Kyle Hudlin fought well for the ball to pass to midfielder Hoang Anh, creating conditions for his teammate to rush in and shoot past goalkeeper Dinh Trieu.

Ly Cong Hoang Anh celebrates the equalizer for Nam Dinh (Photo: Lam Anh).

Kyle Hudlin's superior height made it very difficult for the visitors' defense to stop the high balls. In the 88th minute, Kyle Hudlin headed the ball into the wall for Marlos Brenner to run down and finish.

Although goalkeeper Dinh Trieu blocked the ball, it bounced right into Kevin Pham Ba's reach, who tapped the ball in close to the goal to bring a 2-1 comeback victory for the home team.

Nam Dinh players had a comeback victory over Hai Phong and had a favorable start to the V-League (Photo: Lam Anh).

Kevin Pham Ba's goal brought Nam Dinh all 3 points and a favorable start in the opening match of LPBank V-League 2025-26 as well as the goal of defending the championship this season.

Starting lineup:

Nam Dinh Club (4-1-4-1): Tran Nguyen Manh; Tran Van Kien, Dang Van Toi, Duong Thanh Hao, Nguyen Van Vi; Romulo Da Silva; Ly Cong Hoang Anh, A Mit, Nguyen Tuan Anh, Eid Mahmoud; Brenner.

Hai Phong Club (4-4-2): Nguyen Dinh Trieu; Pham Trung Hieu, Bui Tien Dung, Nguyen Nhat Minh, Trieu Viet Hung; Le Manh Dung, Luiz Antonio, Bicou Bissainthe, Luong Hoang Nam; Nguyen Xuan Nam, Joel.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-thao/thang-kich-tinh-hai-phong-clb-nam-dinh-khoi-dau-v-league-thuan-loi-20250816210422855.htm