Ninh Binh, 10 November 2025 – A superb strike from Pham Xuan Manh earned Hanoi FC a valuable 1-1 draw against Nam Dinh FC in Round 11 of the V.League 1 2025-2026, played at a packed Thien Truong Stadium on the evening of November 10.
Despite a strong home atmosphere and the advantage of playing at Thien Truong Stadium, Nam Dinh FC failed to secure their first win in seven league matches, settling for a 1-1 draw against Hanoi FC. The defending champions continued to show signs of recovery under coach Harry Kewell, but were unable to break Nam Dinh’s dominance at home.
Nam Dinh entered the match amid a poor run of form, having gone six consecutive games without a win in all competitions, including three straight defeats in the V.League 1. Meanwhile, Hanoi FC arrived in good spirits after an emphatic 4-0 victory over PVF-CAND, their biggest win of the season, signaling improved form and cohesion.
The home side started brightly and opened the scoring in just the 7th minute. From a right-wing cross, Hanoi defender Dau Van Toan failed to clear effectively, and the ball fell to Lucas Alves. The Brazilian center-back controlled neatly with his right foot before unleashing a powerful left-footed shot that deflected off Nguyen Thanh Chung and flew into the top corner.
Despite the early setback, Hanoi FC regrouped and gradually took control of possession. Their persistence was rewarded in the 31st minute, when Do Hoang Hen combined with Do Hung Dung to set up Pham Xuan Manh, who executed a magnificent right-footed volley into the top-left corner, leaving goalkeeper Tran Nguyen Manh rooted to the spot.
The rest of the first half saw Hanoi FC dominate play but struggle to find clear chances. Their attacking quartet — Nguyen Van Quyet, Do Hoang Hen, Daniel Passira, and Luiz Fernando — found it difficult to penetrate Nam Dinh’s disciplined defense. Returning to face his former club, Hoang Hen was relatively quiet and substituted in the 74th minute for Le Xuan Tu.
In the second half, Nam Dinh produced several dangerous opportunities. Caio Cesar and Lucas Alves both missed headers, while Percy Tau dazzled with skillful footwork but sent his curling shot wide in the 81st minute. The South African striker twice appealed for penalties but was booked for simulation in the 71st minute after going down in the box. Moments later, another clash in the area saw heated exchanges between Thanh Chung and Duy Manh, as home fans loudly demanded VAR intervention — which never came.
As fatigue set in, both sides committed unforced errors and failed to maintain precision in their passing during the closing minutes. The match eventually ended 1-1 — a result that did little to satisfy either team.
The draw extended Nam Dinh’s winless streak to seven matches in the league, leaving them 10th on the table with 10 points, just three above bottom-placed Da Nang FC but with one game in hand. Meanwhile, Hanoi FC remain sixth with 15 points, trailing leaders Ninh Binh FC by 12 points as the league enters its international break.
Kim Tuyen
Leave a Reply