Van Lam deserves to be recognized more fairly!

Van Lam returns

In the National Cup qualifying match on the evening of October 20th, which was hampered by heavy rain, Dang Van Lam shone brightly. Two decisive saves from the penalty spot by the 1993-born goalkeeper helped Ninh Binh FC overcome hosts Ho Chi Minh City FC to advance to the next round.

In the first save, Van Lam read the ball well before Hai Quan's shot. And in the final save, Manh Cuong's shot was powerful and dangerous, but Van Lam was one step ahead to make the save.

Van Lam successfully saved two penalties.

In the "waterlogged" match at Thong Nhat Stadium, where the ball couldn't roll normally due to the waterlogged surface, the difference in class between the team that finished in the top 4 of the V-League last season (Ho Chi Minh City FC) and the mid-table team in the First Division (Ninh Binh FC) was narrowed.

While Ho Chi Minh City FC had cohesion and home advantage, Ninh Binh FC had a star player to embrace every moment. The fruits of their expensive signings were evident in Van Lam. Wearing the captain's armband, he made three crucial saves, most notably a diving save to block Thanh Khoi's powerful shot in the 83rd minute. And in the penalty shootout, Van Lam's composure propelled Ninh Binh into the next round.

His brilliant performance at Thong Nhat Stadium helped the 31-year-old goalkeeper reaffirm his abilities. He remains one of the best and most consistent goalkeepers in Vietnam.

Relieve stress

Van Lam has been under pressure lately. The 31-year-old goalkeeper made a mistake in Vietnam's 0-3 defeat to Russia in September. He also decided to leave Binh Dinh FC to join Ninh Binh FC, for a reason that, when asked, even the goalkeeper born in 1993 was… confused about.

From playing for Cerezo Osaka in J-League 1, Van Lam moved to the V-League and then down to the First Division. All of this happened within just three years.

Van Lam's emotional celebration

Commentator Vu Quang Huy shared: “Among the national team players in the First Division, I'm a little concerned about Van Lam's case. Goalkeeper Van Lam was trained in Russia, played in Thailand and Japan, and has extensive experience in the V-League. Thanks to this, Van Lam has been a quality shield for the national team for many years. However, the First Division environment will be different.”

However, Van Lam deserves fair recognition. The goalkeeper, who trained at the Dynamo Moscow academy, possesses a solid foundation in basic technique and consistent performance over a long period. He rose to prominence in the national team in March 2017, shining with a series of saves that helped Vietnam draw with Jordan in the 2019 Asian Cup qualifiers. Van Lam embodied the "fortress" in the success of the Vietnamese national team throughout the four years under coach Park Hang-seo (only absent in 2021 due to a shoulder injury).

In the V-League alone, not many goalkeepers are as consistent as Lam "Tay". Rising from a disappointing first season at Hai Phong , Van Lam played so impressively that Muangthong United had to pay to buy his contract and bring the 1993-born goalkeeper to Thailand.

Returning to Binh Dinh after a long period without playing for Cerezo Osaka, Van Lam immediately bounced back. He played consistently, contributing to Binh Dinh's second-place finish last season despite the team having to part ways with many key players.

Van Lam deserves to be recognized fairly.

Van Lam has faced many challenges throughout his career. Ten years ago, he had to seek opportunities to play for the Vietnam U23 team through a heartfelt letter. Van Lam once played in Laos under scorching heat, had to push the team's bus with his bare hands when it broke down on the road, experienced setbacks at Hai Phong and Muangthong clubs, and suffered a shoulder injury during a training session in Japan.

But after all that, Van Lam didn't give up. The goalkeeper, born in 1993, spent tens of millions of dong traveling back and forth from Hai Phong to Hanoi for weeks to receive coaching from Coach Jason Brown of PVF. He hired a private coach and persistently trained his physical fitness and goalkeeping skills. The former goalkeeping coach of a top Asian national team once said that few players have such a high level of professionalism as Van Lam.

Van Lam's seriousness and dedication have ensured that his profession doesn't let him down. Throughout his career, Van Lam has made mistakes. But with his determination, the goalkeeper of Russian and Vietnamese descent will find a way to overcome them.

"As long as Van Lam is professional in training and competition, he can still maintain his form," commentator Quang Huy affirmed.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/van-lam-can-duoc-nhin-nhan-cong-bang-hon-18524102111374834.htm