National Super Cup schedule: Will CAHN Club create a shock or will host Nam Dinh be crowned?

The match between Hanoi Police Club (CAHN) and Nam Dinh Club in the National Super Cup (6 p.m. August 9, Thien Truong Stadium) is very unpredictable, as both teams have strong squads and great ambitions this season.

FIRST TIME FOR CAHN CLUB?

CAHN Club's 2024 - 2025 season is considered successful, when it conquered the National Cup (beat SLNA 5-0 in the final), entered the top 3 of V-League and finished second in the ASEAN Club Championship after a thrilling last-second cup match with champion Buriram United (Thailand).

CAHN Club (right) is considered better than Nam Dinh Club.

Photo: MINH TU

The commendable point of coach Alexandre Polking and his team is that despite having to compete at a breathtaking frequency last season (39 matches in 3 arenas), CAHN Club still had a spectacular sprint with 7 wins in the last 9 matches. Unfortunately, Quang Hai and his teammates had a bad start in the V-League, leading to their efforts in the sprint but only finishing third overall.

Learning from last season's experience, combined with great ambition this season when participating in 4 arenas including V-League, National Cup, ASEAN Club Championship and AFC Champions League 2, CAHN Club has prepared a strong force. The reigning National Cup champion team brought in 3 central defenders, including veteran Janclesio, Vietnamese-American central defender Adou Minh (who was in the typical squad last season) and young star Pham Ly Duc. Coach Polking's team also brought in midfielder Stefan Mauk, who used to play for the Australian U.23 team and is valued at 20 billion VND. Combined with the mainstay framework maintained, CAHN Club is the team with the strongest, deepest and most powerful force in V-League.

More importantly, CAHN Club is increasingly following the philosophy of Coach Polking. Unlike the period of changing 5 coaches in 2 seasons when they first entered the V-League, CAHN decided to put their full trust in Mr. Polking, who has a philosophy of dedicated attack, ball control and smooth passing. The former coach of the Thai national team has proven that with just time to mold, he is capable of creating a team that is both effective and beautiful. After 1.5 years of training and directly recruiting players, Coach Polking has a satisfactory squad. In the context that CAHN Club has never won the National Super Cup (having participated in the Super Cup in 2023, but lost 1-3 to Thanh Hoa Club), this is the time for the German strategist to prove his ability with a win against a big opponent to create a powerful "start" for the new season.

A DIFFICULT PROBLEM FOR NAM DINH CLUB

The 2024 - 2025 V-League championship affirms the rare mettle and stability of Nam Dinh Club, as well as the strategic talent of Coach Vu Hong Viet. However, the question is, after 2 consecutive V-League championships, is Nam Dinh Club's desire to conquer the top still the same as the first day? At the same time, how will Coach Vu Hong Viet and his team defend the top when the lines have not been significantly strengthened, and opponents such as CAHN Club, Hanoi Club or The Cong Viettel are all "thoroughly" competing for strength?

The National Super Cup match at Thien Truong Stadium will help Nam Dinh Club reveal the answer. Last season, Tuan Anh and his teammates easily defeated Thanh Hoa Club in the Super Cup match thanks to their superior strength. However, in the match 3 days later, CAHN Club is the team that is rated higher because the domestic, foreign and overseas Vietnamese players are all very high quality. Nam Dinh Club may have to play as the "underdog", no longer being able to play with a rushing speed and sweep away the opponent as they have long been accustomed to. However, that is a necessary test for the endurance of the team from Thanh Nam.

Coach Vu Hong Viet affirmed: "We can't say anything until the ball rolls. This is an important match, opening the new season, so both teams are definitely determined. For us, the desire to win is even greater when playing at home at Thien Truong Stadium". As for goalkeeper Nguyen Filip of CAHN Club: "The 2023 Super Cup is an unforgettable memory for me and the whole team. To avoid repeating the unwanted result, we have prepared more carefully for the upcoming match, from the competitive mentality to the expertise".

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/lich-thi-dau-sieu-cup-quoc-gia-clb-cahn-tao-soc-hay-chu-nha-nam-dinh-dang-quang-185250805215438623.htm