Ninh Binh, 13 May 2026 – Nam Dinh FC saw their journey in the ASEAN Club Championship come to an end after a 0-2 home defeat to Selangor FC, resulting in a 1-4 aggregate loss across the two semi-final legs.
After losing 1-2 away in the first leg a week earlier, Nam Dinh entered the return match at Thien Truong Stadium needing an aggressive approach. Head coach Vu Hong Viet made changes in defense, bringing goalkeeper Tran Nguyen Manh back into the lineup and introducing Dutch left-back Michell Dijk.
However, it was Dijk who became involved in the key moment of the first half. In the 38th minute, referee Koji Takasaki stopped play during a seemingly harmless Selangor corner after receiving a VAR alert. Following a video review, the Japanese official awarded Selangor a penalty after determining that Dijk had struck Boumous inside the box. Brazilian striker Chrigor confidently converted from the spot to give the visitors a crucial lead.
Before the opener, the game had followed a similar pattern to the first leg. Nam Dinh controlled possession and pressed forward early, but Selangor looked dangerous on the counterattack. Chrigor nearly scored in the 19th minute when he broke through one-on-one, only for Nguyen Manh to read the chipped effort perfectly. Minutes later, Pernambuco forced another save with a powerful left-footed strike.
In the second half, Vu Hong Viet introduced Lam Ti Phong and Chadrac Akolo in an attempt to revive the attack. Nam Dinh created more pressure, but clear-cut chances remained scarce. Lam Ti Phong did manage to put the ball in the net early in the half, though the goal was ruled out for offside involving Percy Tau in the buildup.
As frustration grew, many home supporters began leaving the stadium before full-time. Any remaining hope disappeared in the 90th minute when Chrigor broke the offside trap and calmly finished into the bottom corner to seal a 2-0 victory on the night and complete a dominant individual performance with four goals across the two legs.
While Chrigor emerged as the hero for Selangor, Nam Dinh’s star striker Nguyen Xuan Son struggled to make an impact, largely due to the tight marking of defender Mamadou Diarra.
Selangor will now advance to the final, where they will face either Buriram United or Johor Darul Ta’zim FC. Buriram currently hold the advantage after winning the first leg 3-1 away from home.
The defeat also means Vietnam no longer have any clubs remaining in international competitions this season. Earlier, Hanoi Police FC were eliminated from the regional tournament after a 0-2 loss to Selangor, while both Nam Dinh and Hanoi Police FC had already exited the AFC Champions League Two.
Kim Tuyen
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