Nam Dinh 1-1 Hanoi: Xuan Manh's masterpiece, Xuan Son is silent

The moment Xuan Son sat pensively in the Thien Truong stands after Xuan Manh's shot into the net completely condensed the emotions of round 11 of V-League 2025-2026. On the field, Hanoi FC equalized 1-1; in the stands, a national team player who had just returned from a serious injury silently watched his team lose the advantage.

Main events: Lucas opened the scoring early, Xuan Manh responded with a super goal

In the 7th minute, Nam Dinh Steel Blue took the lead. After Dau Van Toan's foul, center back Lucas reacted quickly in the penalty area and shot powerfully, giving goalkeeper Nguyen Manh no chance to block. The early goal increased the tempo of the match.

In the 32nd minute, Hanoi FC found the answer. From Hung Dung's delicate pass, Xuan Manh chose to skillfully dribble the ball into the far corner. The dangerous shot left goalkeeper Nguyen Manh rooted to the spot, setting the score at 1-1 and causing the away team's stands to explode.

The key moment: Xuan Son and the emotional slice of Thien Truong

The image of Xuan Son of Nam Dinh Steel Blue pensive in the stands after the equalizer was a highlight outside of professional. His thoughtful face reflected the regret of the home team after losing the lead.

Technical corner: the stroke that defines the game

Xuan Manh’s goal came from two quality moments: Hung Dung’s pass that opened up space and the scorer’s finishing choice. His curling shot into the far corner had just enough power and precision, beyond his reflexes. At the other end of the pitch, Lucas showed a rare instinct for a centre-back to seize the opportunity with a decisive finish in the penalty area.

Vietnam National Team: Signals from two names being called up

Both Xuan Son and Xuan Manh have been named in coach Kim Sang Sik’s squad for the upcoming meeting with Laos in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers. Xuan Son has only recently returned from a serious injury; his chances of being used by coach Kim Sang Sik remain uncertain. Meanwhile, Xuan Manh’s superb strike at Thien Truong is a strong reminder of the attacking inspiration he can bring.

Impact on rankings

The 1-1 draw left Nam Dinh Steel Blue in the bottom group, while Hanoi FC could not improve their position in the top group. For both, this score was not enough compared to the expectations set after a dramatic opening 90 minutes.

Notable events

Thien Truong had it all: an early goal, a superb equalizer and a precious moment from Xuan Son. V-League 2025-2026 is still long, but moments like that are often the material to define the season.