Da Nang makes waves in V.League relegation race

Da Nang beat Binh Dinh in the reverse final match - Photo: DNF C

After a series of poor matches and sinking to the bottom of the rankings, seemingly giving up in the race for survival, Da Nang suddenly made a strong comeback with a thrilling 3-1 comeback victory over Binh Dinh in round 22 of V.League 2024/25 on the evening of May 10.

After a first half where they were completely outplayed by Binh Dinh, the home team made a spectacular comeback. After the equalizer in the 78th minute, the match returned to the same stalemate as in the first half. Da Nang pushed forward with determination to find a goal while Binh Dinh took the initiative to slow down the pace, trying to stifle the excitement of the home team.

However, the dramatic turning point came right in the last minute of extra time. In the 90+5 minute, in a high-up attack, goalkeeper Bui Tien Dung suddenly transformed into a "striker" when he received a cross from the right wing and then launched a beautiful volley, putting Da Nang up 2-1. That shot not only made Tam Ky Stadium explode but also added to the spirit of the Han River team. The climax was in the 90+7 minute, when Phi Hoang took advantage of the situation where the away team raised their entire formation, dribbled the ball all the way from the home field and finished into the empty net to seal the score.

A spectacular comeback, a true spirit of never giving up. But what is more worth mentioning is the way the Han River team won with a courageous spirit, with the fierce rise of a team that was pushed into a corner. 3 points are more precious than gold in this match, a huge dose of mental doping for Da Nang after going through a prolonged crisis. From being considered "almost hopeless", they now have a chance to survive.

The victory over Binh Dinh helped Da Nang gain 17 points, shortening the gap with the group above SLNA (20 points), Quang Nam (21 points) and Binh Dinh (19 points). In the context of only 4 rounds left in the V.League, this victory can be considered a "lifebuoy" to bring coach Le Duc Tuan and his team "back to earth" after long days of sinking at the bottom of the table.

Goalkeeper Bui Tien Dung transformed into a striker, contributing an important goal to Da Nang's victory - Photo: DNFC.

Not only changing the score situation, the victory over Binh Dinh also made direct opponents such as SLNA, Quang Nam or Binh Dinh "sit on fire". The return of Da Nang made the relegation race more fierce and unpredictable. Now, just one misstep can make any team fall into a dangerous position.

The commendable thing is that Da Nang's rise did not only come from a moment of explosion but also a process of mental change. When pushed to the wall, Da Nang players did not surrender, did not give up. Tien Dung and Phi Hoang were the heroes in the comeback. That shows that when the team regains their spirit, anything can happen.

Coach Le Duc Tuan and his team have clearly not escaped the relegation train to the first division, but at least they have shown that they will not fall easily. In the next rounds, Da Nang will face Quang Nam, HAGL, Ha Tinh and SLNA. If they continue to maintain the spirit and form as in the victory over Binh Dinh, the Han River team can completely continue their miraculous journey of survival.

In football, the most difficult thing is not technique or tactics – but spirit. And Da Nang, with “nothing to lose”, have rekindled the relegation race. They made the rest of the season more unpredictable than ever. Perhaps, Bui Tien Dung’s goal that day will be mentioned as a turning point – the moment that awakened the spirit of the team that was once a force in Vietnamese football.

Source: https://znews.vn/da-nang-khien-cuoc-dua-tru-hang-vleague-gon-song-post1552421.html