In an intense and hard-fought match, Nam Dinh clinched a 3-2 victory over Tampines Rovers at Thien Truong Stadium, bringing them one step closer to securing a spot in the Round of 16 in the AFC Champions League Two. Despite remaining second in Group G behind Bangkok United, Nam Dinh now holds 8 points after four games, widening their lead over third-placed Tampines Rovers to four points.
Having drawn 3-3 in their previous encounter, Nam Dinh entered this home fixture with a more balanced approach, focusing on both attack and a tightened defense. However, the visitors nearly struck first with a header from Yamashita, forcing Nam Dinh to reevaluate their strategy. In the 17th minute, Nam Dinh created a promising opportunity. Joseph Mpande crossed the ball from the right, triggering a scramble in the box, with several attempts by Ly Cong Hoang Anh, Hendrio Araujo, Moses Odo, and Lucas Silva, but luck was not on their side. Hoang Anh’s chance was the most notable, as he tried to chip the ball over the defense, only for it to be cleared off the line.
Nam Dinh’s missed opportunities were soon punished. In the 38th minute, Amirul Adli capitalized on a defensive lapse, heading the ball past goalkeeper Tran Nguyen Manh, giving Tampines Rovers a 1-0 lead—Nam Dinh’s first home goal conceded in this tournament.
The start of the second half saw another setback for Nam Dinh, as Seia Kunori exploited a defensive misread from a corner kick, doubling Tampines Rovers’ lead in the 48th minute with a sharp, close-range finish. This deficit jolted Nam Dinh back into action, as they intensified their offensive efforts. In the 57th minute, Caio Cesar controlled the ball with his chest and executed a stunning turn and strike to reduce the gap to 1-2.
Despite fielding seven foreign players, Nam Dinh’s attack appeared predictable in the absence of Nguyen Xuan Son, primarily relying on crosses to the box for their foreign players. In the 62nd minute, a critical moment occurred when Nguyen Phong Hong Duy lost the ball, gifting Tampines Rovers a clear scoring opportunity. However, the Tampines forward’s shot struck the post, sparing Nam Dinh from a further setback.
Nam Dinh dominated the final 20 minutes, creating multiple chances. Caio Cesar and Lucas Silva both took shots from range, but neither found the target. However, Nam Dinh’s foreign contingent rose to the occasion. In the 80th minute, Nguyen Van Vi broke down the left wing, delivering a perfect pass to Joseph Mpande, who slotted in the equalizer at 2-2.
The match reached its climax in stoppage time. Amid a chaotic scramble in the Tampines Rovers penalty area, Lucas Silva seized the moment, executing a stunning overhead shot that found the back of the net despite the goalkeeper diving in the right direction.
With this dramatic 3-2 comeback, Nam Dinh now sits at 8 points from four matches, leading Tampines Rovers by four points and moving closer to securing a place in the knockout rounds of the AFC Champions League Two.
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