Nam Dinh claimed a dominant 4-1 victory over Song Lam Nghe An at their home stadium, Thien Truong, during round 4 of the 2024/2025 V-League.
Rafaelson, who has taken on the Vietnamese name Nguyen Xuan Son for the 2024/2025 season, was the V-League’s top scorer last season with 31 goals. However, this year, the Nam Dinh striker had yet to find the back of the net leading into this match.
One of the reasons for his goal drought was the tight marking from opposing defenders, as teams worked hard to neutralize the threat posed by Xuan Son. Additionally, the players supporting him had struggled to create opportunities, contributing to the reigning champions’ slow start to the season.
With Xuan Son goalless in the first three rounds of the 2024/2025 V-League, Nam Dinh had also endured a sluggish start. This made their clash against Song Lam Nghe An in the fourth round a crucial opportunity for both the team and their star striker to regain momentum.
Song Lam Nghe An, on the other hand, had brought in two new foreign players to ease the pressure on their standout forward, Olaha. However, these additions had yet to deliver, and after three matches, Song Lam Nghe An remained winless, having drawn against Da Nang and Ha Tinh, and lost to Hoang Anh Gia Lai , placing them in the relegation zone.
In terms of squad strength, Nam Dinh clearly held the upper hand. According to the valuation from transfermarkt, Nam Dinh ranks as the most expensive team in the V-League 2024/2025, valued at 5.81 million euros, while Song Lam Nghe An ranks sixth with a valuation of 2.55 million euros.
Historically, Nam Dinh often struggled against Song Lam Nghe An, especially when they were one of the league’s less wealthy teams. However, since Nam Dinh’s recent transformation with significant investments, they have consistently produced favorable results against the Nghe An side.
In this encounter, Nam Dinh not only boasted a superior squad and better form but also had the advantage of playing at home. With the backing of their supporters, they were determined to secure all three points. For Nguyen Xuan Son, this match was seen as the ideal chance to break his goal drought.
In the opening five minutes, Nam Dinh capitalized on a swift counterattack as Le Van Nam set up Xuan Son, who calmly slotted the ball past Song Lam Nghe An goalkeeper Duong Van Cuong, scoring his first goal of the season and giving Nam Dinh an early lead.
Nam Dinh continued to dominate the match, creating several chances while Xuan Son came close to scoring again with a left-footed strike that narrowly missed the target. Despite a brief resurgence from Song Lam Nghe An in the second half, the home team’s defensive solidity, led by goalkeeper Bui Tan Truong, ensured Nam Dinh kept control.
By the final whistle, Nam Dinh had secured a convincing 4-1 win, giving them valuable momentum in the league and marking Xuan Son’s return to form with his first goal of the season. For Song Lam Nghe An, their struggles continued, with the team still in search of their first win.
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