Ha Tinh 2-1 Hanoi: Trong Hoang's ear was torn after the collision
In the middle of the second half on a wet and slippery field, Do Hoang Hen accidentally brushed his studded shoe against Trong Hoang's left earlobe, causing nearly two-thirds of his earlobe to tear. He bandaged it temporarily, continued playing, then went to the hospital for two stitches; his health was stable.
Hong Linh Ha Tinh beat Hanoi 2-1 in round 9 of V-League 2025-2026, but the haunting highlight of that football night was the moment Trong Hoang stood up, asked for temporary bandages and continued playing after his left ear was deeply torn due to an accidental collision.
The pivotal moment in the second half
In the middle of the second half, when Trong Hoang tried to cover the ball in slippery and wet conditions, he fell down first. Do Hoang Hen – the midfielder who had just been naturalized by Hanoi FC – rushed forward, lost his footing and could not pull his leg back in time. The studded shoe brushed hard against the left earlobe of the former national team player, causing two deep tears, nearly 2/3 of the earlobe.
Blood flowed so much that his shirt was soaked. However, Trong Hoang still stood up, put on a temporary bandage and continued playing. At that time, few people expected the injury to be so serious that his almost severed ear had to be stitched in place.
Words from the coaching bench
Coach Nguyen Cong Manh of Ha Tinh said: “Blood soaked his shirt. We immediately took Hoang to the hospital after the match ended. Doctors had to stitch two stitches to fix his almost severed ear.”
Late on October 31, Trong Hoang was still in the hospital for further monitoring. Doctors said his health was stable, but he needed time to carefully care for his wound. The time to return to the training ground could not be determined.
Fair play spirit and handshake moment
Immediately after the match, Do Hoang Hen took the initiative to visit and apologize. He explained that it was an unexpected situation in slippery field conditions, and he could not withdraw his foot in time. The image of the two players shaking hands was widely spread and received many compliments for their good sportsmanship.
Impact on the game situation
When Trong Hoang got injured, the score was 1-1. He remained on the field, fighting alongside his teammates until Ha Tinh decided the match with a 2-1 victory. After the final whistle, the whole team gave three points to their brave captain.
Analysis corner: competition conditions and symbolic value
Slippery field conditions and wet ball were the immediate context for the collision. The incident showed the high risk involved in high-speed clashes, and also highlighted Trong Hoang’s leadership role: his determination to continue despite being seriously injured, providing a morale boost for the team.
Selected statistics
- Result: Hong Linh Ha Tinh 2-1 Hanoi (round 9 V-League 2025–2026).
- Time of incident: midway through the second half, the pitch was slippery and the ball was wet.
- Injury: two deep lacerations, nearly 2/3 of the left ear; two stitches.
- Hospital: overnight observation 10/31; stable health.
- Ranking: Ha Tinh rose to 6th place, 12 points after 9 rounds.
- Age: 36.
Long-term significance
For Ha Tinh, three points not only help improve their ranking but also strengthen their team spirit, highlighted by the efforts of their captain. For Trong Hoang, the recovery journey requires patience; the time of return will depend on the wound care process as assessed by the doctor.
