Song Lam Nghe An defeated SHB Da Nang at Vinh Stadium.

On the afternoon of April 11th, at Vinh Stadium, Song Lam Nghe An hosted SHB Da Nang in the 18th round of the V.League 2025/26. This was considered a particularly important match for both teams as they both aimed to avoid relegation. Before kick-off, the home team had an advantage with an 8-point lead over their opponent, but still needed a win to consolidate their position.

In this match, coach Van Sy Son was without striker Dale Moore due to suspension. This was a significant loss in the attack, forcing the coaching staff to make personnel adjustments. New signing Carlos Fortes was given a starting opportunity in attack, while Michael Olaha dropped back to play as an attacking midfielder. On the wings, Karim Phi Long was given his first starting spot on the left flank, while Manh Quynh took on the right wing.

From the very first minutes, both teams played cautiously. The game proceeded at a moderate pace, with most of the ball movements being exploratory. In the first 10 minutes, almost no clear scoring opportunities were created.

In the 11th minute, Song Lam Nghe An had their first notable chance when Manh Quynh broke through to face goalkeeper Van Toan. However, the midfielder's shot narrowly missed the post. Just a few minutes later, the home team managed to put the ball into the opponent's net. Taking advantage of a mistake by the SHB Da Nang defense, Fortes stole the ball and successfully shot. However, after consulting VAR, the referee determined that the ball had touched the striker's hand earlier and disallowed the goal.

Failing to capitalize on their advantage, Song Lam Nghe An nearly paid the price shortly afterwards. SHB Da Nang had a very clear chance, but foreign player Ribamar's shot was inaccurate in a one-on-one situation. The match therefore continued to be a back-and-forth affair.

In the 27th minute, Karim Phi Long had a chance to make his mark in his first start, but the Vietnamese-born player's shot lacked the necessary power to beat goalkeeper Van Toan. For the remainder of the first half, Song Lam Nghe An controlled the game better, but their final touches lacked the necessary sharpness. The half ended in a 0-0 draw, accurately reflecting the situation on the field.

In the second half, the pace of the game increased. SHB Da Nang proactively pushed forward in search of a goal, but Song Lam Nghe An maintained a solid defense.

In the 59th minute, the turning point of the match arrived. Following a combination play on the left wing, Vuong Van Huy forced the opposing defender to commit a foul inside the penalty area. The referee immediately pointed to the penalty spot. From the 11-meter mark, Michael Olaha made no mistake, beating goalkeeper Van Toan to open the scoring for the home team.

After scoring, Song Lam Nghe An deliberately slowed down the pace of the game and played more defensively. They still created dangerous opportunities from counter-attacks. In the 67th minute, Olaha had a chance to double the lead with a header, but the ball wasn't powerful enough to pose a real threat.

On the other side, SHB Da Nang were forced to push forward and bring on more attacking players. However, the visitors' attacks lacked cohesion and failed to create many breakthroughs.

In the 79th and 82nd minutes, SHB Da Nang had two notable opportunities but failed to capitalize on either. In particular, Macaric's one-on-one chance was brilliantly saved by goalkeeper Cao Van Binh, maintaining the home team's advantage.

In the final minutes, Song Lam Nghe An deliberately slowed down the pace of the game and defended their lead. Despite their best efforts, SHB Da Nang could not make a difference. The match ended with a 1-0 victory for Song Lam Nghe An.

The three points earned helped the Nghe An team raise their total points to 23 and create a gap of 11 points from the relegation zone. This is a huge advantage in the relegation battle, allowing coach Van Sy Son's team to breathe a little easier in the remainder of the season.

With a solid, well-organized performance and the ability to capitalize on opportunities, Song Lam Nghe An has shown significant maturity. The victory against SHB Da Nang is a crucial turning point, opening up hopes of achieving their goal of avoiding relegation this season.