Ninh Binh, 23 November 2025 – Nam Dinh booked their spot in the 2025–2026 National Cup quarterfinals with a 2-0 win over Long An, though the match proved far from easy despite the emotional return of striker Xuan Son at Thien Truong Stadium.
Nam Dinh advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2025–2026 National Cup after defeating V.League 2 side Long An 2-0 at Thien Truong Stadium on the evening of November 23. While the scoreline suggests a comfortable victory, the 90 minutes told a different story as the home side endured a hard-fought night in what marked the official club-level return of striker Xuan Son after nearly 10 months sidelined with injury.
The match featured two notable comebacks. For Nam Dinh, Xuan Son stepped onto the pitch for his first official appearance since suffering a serious leg injury in early January, bringing great anticipation to the home crowd. On the visiting side, Long An welcomed the return of assistant coach Nguyen Van Sy, a figure deeply connected with Nam Dinh during his previous years with the club.
Due to competition regulations when facing a lower-division opponent, Nam Dinh were only allowed to field one foreign player. However, this limitation caused little concern for the hosts, who still boasted a strong domestic lineup. With names like Nguyen Manh, Doan Thanh Hao, Hong Duy, A Mit, Lam Ti Phong, Hoang Anh, Kevin Pham Ba and Xuan Son in the starting XI, Nam Dinh entered the match with clear superiority.
The home team immediately applied pressure after kickoff, with Xuan Son showing impressive sharpness and mobility on the front line. The striker produced several dangerous attempts that forced goalkeeper Van Hung into difficult saves — including one effort that struck the post — signaling a promising return despite his long injury layoff.
Nam Dinh continued to dominate the second half and increased attacking power by bringing on their lone foreign player, Brenner. The substitution proved crucial. In the 71st minute, Brenner broke the deadlock with a decisive finish, relieving the pressure that had built up throughout the match.
With momentum fully on their side, Nam Dinh pushed forward with confidence. In the 84th minute, Lam Ti Phong sealed the victory by firing home the second goal, ensuring a 2-0 result and sending the home crowd into celebration.
The win also marked a successful debut for new head coach Mauro Jeronimo, who hopes this result can become a turning point for Nam Dinh as they prepare to rejoin the title race in the second phase of V.League 1 2025–2026.
Xuan Son’s solid performance and visible hunger for the game added further optimism for Nam Dinh fans, who are eager to see how his presence will elevate the club’s ambitions in the coming months.
Kim Tuyen
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