On the afternoon of September 4, the Vietnam national football team played a friendly match against V.League 1 champions Nam Dinh as part of preparations for the upcoming Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers. The game, held at the Vietnam Youth Football Training Center, was the first of two friendly fixtures for the national side in this September training camp.
On the afternoon of September 4, the Vietnam national football team played a friendly match against V.League 1 champions Nam Dinh as part of preparations for the upcoming Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers. The game, held at the Vietnam Youth Football Training Center, was the first of two friendly fixtures for the national side in this September training camp.
With head coach Kim Sang-sik away on duty with the U23 national team, assistant coach Dinh Hong Vinh was given full control on the touchline. Vietnam started the match with goalkeeper Van Viet in goal, a defensive trio of Tuan Tai, Thanh Chung, and Duy Manh, while the midfield featured Hoang Duc, Duc Chien, Quang Vinh, and Tien Anh. In attack, Tuan Hai, Tien Linh, and Ngoc Quang led the frontline.
Meanwhile, Nam Dinh coach Vu Hong Viet made a bold choice to field a lineup consisting entirely of 11 foreign players, aiming to test the full strength of his international stars. The decision quickly paid off as the reigning champions imposed their dominance from the opening whistle. The visitors took the lead in the first half thanks to a precise finish from Romulo, ending the opening 45 minutes with a 1-0 advantage.
In the second half, Vietnam rotated their entire squad, while Nam Dinh also made several changes to continue their tactical experiments. Notably, midfielder To Van Vu returned to the pitch after a lengthy spell out due to injury. Despite the changes, Nam Dinh’s foreign stars remained in control of the match. Mahmoud Eid doubled the lead with a clinical strike, before Kelly Hudlin extended it further to 3-0 midway through the half.
Towards the closing stages, Nam Dinh, even with more substitutions from the bench, continued to show superiority. Kelly Hublin once again found the net, sealing his brace and completing a comprehensive 4-0 victory for the visitors over the national team.
The result highlighted both the quality and depth of Nam Dinh’s foreign contingent, which has been heavily reinforced during the 2025 summer transfer window. Their physicality, pace, and sharp finishing overwhelmed Vietnam’s defense, while the national team struggled to create clear chances despite the presence of experienced players like Hoang Duc and Tien Linh.
For Vietnam, the heavy defeat serves as a valuable test rather than a setback. With the Asian Cup qualifiers approaching in October, the coaching staff emphasized that the friendlies against Nam Dinh and Hanoi Police FC are primarily intended to review the squad, assess fitness levels, and integrate new faces.
Vietnam will continue their training camp this week before taking on Hanoi Police FC in the second friendly match on September 7, with hopes of showing improvements in both performance and results.
Hong Phuc
Leave a Reply