V-League 2024/25 and the first surprises.

Both matches on September 14th saw results that were quite surprising compared to the predictions of experts and fans. In the earliest match at the Ha Tinh stadium, with a beautiful header that found the back of the net, newcomer Adou Leygley Minh caused defending champions Nam Dinh to stumble in their first match of the season.

Nam Dinh hastily registered Rafaelson as a naturalized player before the procedures were completed, meaning the V-League 2023/24 top scorer couldn't play. Playing without a striker who scored 31 goals last season, including 3 against Hong Linh Ha Tinh, the Nam Dinh attack, featuring Mpande, Hendrio, and Van Toan, became ineffective on a day when this trio underperformed. Clearly, without Rafaelson, Nam Dinh's attack lacked vitality. Mpande and Hendrio Silva replaced him in attack but lacked the luck to make a difference on the Ha Tinh pitch.

Meanwhile, Hong Linh Ha Tinh, despite almost completely overhauling their squad (parting ways with 10 players and bringing in 12 new recruits, including 3 foreign players and 1 overseas Vietnamese player), maintained their fighting spirit. The team from the mountains of Hong and the La River played bravely and brilliantly against the reigning champions. Overseas Vietnamese center-back Adou Leygley Minh made a strong impression on his V-League debut with excellent saves and the only goal that secured the victory for Hong Linh Ha Tinh.

Coach Nguyen Thanh Cong expressed his satisfaction with the rapid integration of the 27-year-old Vietnamese-born newcomer from Grenoble: "We were introduced to Adou Leygley Minh last season, but only this season did we give him a trial. Initially, he struggled to integrate into the team, but he's been working harder. In the pre-season friendly, Minh showed rapid progress, so we decided to sign him. In this match, Minh played very well; he's one of the few Vietnamese-born players who has adapted to the V-League so quickly." Coach Hong Viet admitted, "The absence of Rafaelson has significantly reduced our attacking power; his absence is a major loss."

Coach Nguyen Thanh Cong may be skilled at making the most of what he has, a fact proven many times before, but it's clear that Nam Dinh is still dependent on the soon-to-be top scorer, Viet Nguyen Xuan Son, or perhaps they haven't yet hit their stride. Their goal of defending their title faces challenges from even the most modest players.

According to Transfermarkt's valuation, Nam Dinh's squad is worth €5.99 million, ranking first in the V-League 2024/25. However, being "rich" doesn't always guarantee happiness. The more investment, the greater the pressure. Coach Vu Hong Viet not only has to help the team achieve success but also faces internal competition, both on and off the pitch. Hopefully, this setback won't affect their opening match in the AFC Champions League Two on September 18th, when Nam Dinh will travel to face Hong Kong champions Lee Man.

Not only Nam Dinh, but also Thanh Hoa, the champions of last season's National Cup, suffered a defeat at home against Binh Duong. Despite a promising start with Antonio scoring the opening goal in the first half, a subsequent power outage seemed to herald bad luck for coach Velizar Popov's team. Shortly after the start of the second half, Nguyen Tien Linh scored two goals in quick succession within five minutes, helping the visitors stage an impressive comeback to celebrate coach Hoang Anh Tuan's official debut at the club.

In recent seasons, Thanh Hoa has left a strong impression with its passionate playing style and has often thwarted the plans of the big teams. Perhaps this V-League season, it will be Binh Duong that replaces Thanh Hoa and brings exciting new colors to the tournament.

With Nam Dinh, CAHN, Hanoi FC, and B. Binh Duong becoming even stronger, the remaining teams in the 2024/25 V-League season will certainly have fewer opportunities to compete for the title. However, this doesn't mean the "underdog" teams can be underestimated. They must fight to remain in the V-League at the end of the season.