In a disappointing turn of events, Nam Dinh’s campaign in the AFC Champions League Two 2024/2025 came to an abrupt end after a crushing 0-4 defeat in the second leg of the round of 16 against Sanfrecce Hiroshima on the evening of February 19. The match, played away from home, saw Nam Dinh struggle from the outset, and a critical injury to their key goalkeeper Nguyen Manh further compounded their woes. With Manh unable to feature, the team had to rely on Liem Dieu between the posts, a decision that reflected the depth challenges the squad faces under adverse circumstances.
From the very beginning, Nam Dinh entered the match with determination and the hope of overturning the deficit from the first leg. In the opening minutes, the players pushed forward aggressively, creating several early chances to put pressure on the opposition. A promising opportunity arose when the team’s forward, a Chinese striker, came close to breaking the deadlock, only for his shot to go wide of the target. Despite these early efforts, it did not take long for Sanfrecce Hiroshima to seize control of the game. After roughly ten minutes of disjointed play by Nam Dinh, Hiroshima began to dictate the pace of the match, demonstrating superior organization and tactical discipline.
The turning point came when Sanfrecce Hiroshima capitalized on a set-piece situation. Arai delivered a well-taken corner that allowed Sasaki to surge forward and finish clinically, giving the home side an early lead. With the advantage on the scoreboard, Sanfrecce Hiroshima appeared to relax momentarily, but the momentum they had built ensured that they continued to generate quality chances throughout the first half. Although there were moments when Nam Dinh threatened to claw back into the game, the effectiveness of the opposition’s attack proved too potent, and another goal soon followed, further demoralizing the visitors.
In the second half, the imbalance became even more apparent. Sanfrecce Hiroshima made a couple of tactical substitutions, yet the result remained unchanged as the team maintained its dominance on the field. At the 54th minute, Nakamura added a second goal to the tally with a precise shot from a cross-corner, pushing the scoreline to 2-0. The barrage did not stop there; at the 66th minute, another corner taken by Arai saw Nakano rise above the defenders to head the ball into the net, making it 3-0. In a final demonstration of their control, Nakamura once again found the back of the net in stoppage time at 90+1, sealing a 4-0 victory for the home side.
With the second leg ending 0-4, Nam Dinh was eliminated from the competition with an aggregate score of 0-7. The result marks a bitter end to their campaign in the Asian C2 Cup 2024/2025, highlighting the challenges they face in maintaining consistency and depth in their squad. As the team reflects on this defeat, the injury to Nguyen Manh and the overall performance will undoubtedly prompt serious reassessment as they look to regroup and prepare for future challenges.
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