V-League: Positive signs from key players

Indeed, the latest round of the V-League has been bringing many positive and fresh signals, alongside things that need to be continuously monitored in the future.

First of all, Round 14 witnessed the hopeful return of national team players who had been sidelined by injury for a long time, unable to play for either the national team or their clubs, such as Ngoc Hai, Van Lam, Tuan Hai, Tuan Anh, Van Duc, etc., with Van Lam starting in goal, Tuan Hai starting, and the remaining players coming on from the bench. Although the results varied, the return of these national team players to the V-League is a positive sign for Vietnamese football, at both the national team and club levels.

Thankfully, Tuan Anh and Van Duc contributed to the victories of the visiting teams, Thep Xanh Nam Dinh against Hanoi FC (2-1) and Cong An Hanoi against Dong A Thanh Hoa (2-0), with Van Duc scoring his first goal for his new team and new season after a long period of injury treatment. Van Lam played well in the 1-1 draw with Ho Chi Minh City. Unfortunately, Ngoc Hai could not help the visiting team Binh Duong earn a point against Hong Linh Ha Tinh (0-2), and Tuan Hai, despite playing aggressively, had to accept defeat in both home and away matches against Thanh Nam team…

In the teams that won in round 14, such as The Cong Viettel, Hong Linh Ha Tinh, Thep Xanh Nam Dinh, and Hanoi Police, and in the teams that drew, such as Khanh Hoa, Ho Chi Minh City, Song Lam Nghe An, Hai Phong FC, Hoang Anh Gia Lai, and Binh Dinh, the pivotal role of national team players was quite evident. These included Ngoc Quang and Minh Vuong (Hoang Anh Gia Lai), Van Cong, Ngoc Son, and Nguyen Manh (Thep Xanh Nam Dinh), Thanh Binh, Manh Dung, and Duc Chien (The Cong Viettel), and Viet Anh, Nguyen Filip, and Van Duc (Hanoi Police)...

However, what experts and fans were waiting for from Ngoc Hai, Tien Linh, Hung Dung, Quang Hai… has yet to be satisfactorily answered. Meanwhile, Dinh Bac, Thai Son… have not played in round 14. Dinh Bac, in particular, will face considerable difficulties in the coming period due to unresolved personal issues after playing at a higher level in the Vietnamese national team under Philippe Truosier.

Round 14 also left some heart-stopping moments regarding goalkeepers, especially those who have long been highly regarded. Nguyen Filip, alongside his spectacular, high-class saves, also made a few uncertain and unsafe mistakes. In the away match against Dong A Thanh Hoa, Nguyen Filip handled a high ball by jumping high to catch it but then pulling it back down upon landing, causing his teammates to gasp and opponents to shout that the ball had gone over the goal line. Normally, in that situation, the ball should have been directed forward within his control to ensure safety, but it's unclear why such an experienced goalkeeper handled it so carelessly.

Vietnam U23 and Hanoi FC goalkeeper Van Chuan also fumbled the ball in a situation where Van Kien (Thep Xanh Nam Dinh) unleashed a clumsy, unpredictable long-range shot. Minh Toan (Binh Duong), who has always played very confidently, was directly at fault for two goals conceded on the Hong Linh Ha Tinh pitch. Goalkeeper Nguyen Manh also made poor decisions in his confrontation with Tuan Hai; fortunately, no one was injured after the strong collision in the second half…

The highlight of Round 14 was the resurgence of Nam Dinh Steel with 32 points, 6 points ahead of second-placed Binh Duong with 26 points. Hanoi Police is temporarily in third place with 25 points, and Kiatisuk's team will certainly not settle for this position. Meanwhile, the bottom three teams are Khanh Hoa with 10 points, and Hoang Anh Gia Lai and Song Lam Nghe An both with 14 points. It's clear that relegation is already secured for the coastal team, and the competition for the remaining half-spot is between Hoang Anh Gia Lai and Song Lam Nghe An, with the team from Thanh Vinh facing a tougher challenge in the upcoming away matches.

Hoa Bui