Southeast Asian Champions League: Nam Dinh Club at a disadvantage

Nam Dinh Club is at a disadvantage in the race to qualify for the final.

The 1-2 defeat against Selangor FC in the first leg of the ASEAN Club Championship - Shopee Cup 2025/2026 (Southeast Asian Champions League) semi-final on May 6th puts Nam Dinh FC at a disadvantage in the race for a place in the final. This defeat also highlighted the ineffective attacking play of the reigning V-League champions.

With their high-class foreign players, Nam Dinh FC dominated possession despite playing away at Selangor. Coach Vu Hong Viet's team quickly found their rhythm and created a favorable game, but lacked sharpness at crucial moments. The team from Nam Dinh created many sharp attacking opportunities down the flanks thanks to the agility of their technically gifted wingers Percy Tau and Lusamba. Match statistics show that Nam Dinh FC missed no fewer than six scoring chances.

Despite numerous attacks, Nam Dinh FC failed to convert them into goals and paid the price with goals conceded from Selangor FC's quick counter-attacks. The Malaysian team always knew how to confuse Nam Dinh's strikers in the final stages of the game, and they capitalized on these opportunities to score the decisive goals.

Van Vi - the player who scored the only goal for Nam Dinh FC in their loss to Selangor. (Photo: Lam Thoa)

This isn't the first time Nam Dinh FC's attack has been disappointing. While in the early stages of the season, Coach Vu Hong Viet's team frequently won thanks to their ability to control the game and finish effectively, that explosiveness has significantly decreased in recent matches. The foreign attacking players show signs of fatigue and lack of creativity, while wing attacks or long-range shots have failed to create much surprise.

However, Nam Dinh FC's chances of turning the situation around are not yet over. The one-goal deficit against Selangor can certainly be overcome when Nam Dinh FC returns to their home ground, Thien Truong Stadium, for the second leg of the semi-final on May 13th.

Home advantage remains the biggest asset for V-League representatives thanks to the passionate atmosphere and the pressure from the fans, which always makes opponents wary.

However, it is crucial that coach Vu Hong Viet and his team strengthen their attack and capitalize on the opportunities they get.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/cup-c1-dong-nam-a-clb-nam-dinh-bat-loi-196260507190032025.htm