In a surprising turn of events, Hong Linh Ha Tinh pulled off a 1-0 victory over defending champions Nam Dinh in the opening match of the 2024/2025 LPBank V-League season. Nam Dinh, who had high hopes for the match, were left frustrated by missed opportunities and a solid defensive display from their opponents.
Nam Dinh had registered last season’s top scorer, Rafaelson, as a naturalized player. However, due to paperwork issues, the Brazilian striker was unable to play, leaving coach Vu Hong Viet to rely on new signing Joseph Mpande. Mpande, the former Hai Phong star who scored 11 goals last season, struggled to link up effectively with midfielder Hendrio, a partnership that Rafaelson had excelled in during the previous campaign.
Nam Dinh also opted to bench center-back Lucas in favor of Caio in midfield, a tactical decision that saw Caio perform well in a highly contested battle against Ha Tinh’s compact midfield. Despite dominating the second half, Nam Dinh failed to capitalize on their chances.
In the first half, Nam Dinh had several promising opportunities. In the 22nd minute, Nguyen Van Toan sent a lofted ball into the box, but goalkeeper Nguyen Thanh Tung closed down Hendrio before he could finish. Mpande, who had a couple of looks at goal, missed a powerful shot over the crossbar in the 33rd minute and followed up with a header that Hendrio failed to capitalize on.
Nam Dinh’s missed chances came back to haunt them in the 42nd minute. From a well-executed corner kick, Ha Tinh’s Vietnamese-French defender Adou Minh rose high to head the ball into the far corner, giving the home side a 1-0 lead. Adou Minh’s performance was pivotal, not only for his goal but also for his defensive partnership with Herloson, which thwarted Nam Dinh’s relentless attacks in the second half.
Nam Dinh came out strong after the break, pinning Ha Tinh back in their own half. However, their attackers failed to convert several chances. Hendrio saw two of his shots blocked by defenders, while Mpande squandered three key opportunities, including a header that went wide in the 55th minute and two efforts that were saved by the goalkeeper in the 70th and 86th minutes.
As the game drew to a close, Ha Tinh fell back into a deep defensive posture, with many players going down to disrupt play and slow Nam Dinh’s momentum. Their antics, including some dramatic recoveries from injury, drew laughs from their own fans, but they managed to hold on until the final whistle.
The 1-0 victory secured an unexpected three points for Ha Tinh and marked the first major upset of the 2024/2025 LPBank V-League season. Nam Dinh, despite their dominance, will need to regroup and find their finishing touch in the coming matches.
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