>>> V.League Matchday 3 Preview: Hanoi FC-HAGL clash takes centre stage
Midfielder Khac Ngoc put the guests ahead in the first minute before Rafaelson restored parity with a powerful long-range strike 18 minutes later.
As the match seemed it was to end up in a 1-1 draw, midfielder Vu Minh Tuan became the hero for Viettel slotting it in from close range in the 92nd minute to help Truong Viet Hoang’s side bag the full three points.
Last season, Nam Dinh proved to be an annoying opponent for every team when playing on home turf. They won eight of their 13 league games at Thien Truong Stadium, which became a fulcrum for Nguyen Van Sy’s troops to look towards a good result against visitors Viettel.
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Nam Dinh's Thien Truong Stadium is filled with thousands of fans. (Photo:VPF)
Despite conceding an early goal, the host team showed little impatience and needed just 20 minutes to level up the score, with Rafaelson firing an unstoppable left-footed rocket from outside the box past goalkeeper Nguyen Manh. This was the fourth goal scored by the Brazilian striker for Nam Dinh in their last three matches.
Nam Dinh’s new signing came close to completing a brace late in the first half, but his close-range attempt was narrowly wide. Viettel also missed a similar opportunity shortly before halftime.
After the break, the home side lost Mai Xuan Quyet, their most active player during the match, who was forced to leave the stadium due to cramp. Additionally, they received another blow as substitute Lam Anh Quang was shown a straight red card following a brutal foul on Bruno Cantanhede.
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Vu Minh Tuan celebrates scoring the winning goal for Viettel FC. (Photo: VPF)
Viettel made use of their numerical advantage to set the pace of the game. Two minutes into injury time, substitute Vu Minh Tuan blasted a lightning shot in the box past the Nam Dinh keeper to seal a dramatic 2-1 win for Truong Viet Hoang’s side.
The victory lifted Viettel to second in the provisional V.League table level alongside Ho Chi Minh (HCM) City on seven points. Meanwhile, the defeat left Nam Dinh FC in 10th position with just three points.
In other matches on the same day, HCM City missed a chance to further consolidate their top spot with a goalless away draw against Hai Phong FC, while Saigon FC tied with Becamex Binh Duong with the same score.
V.League Matchday 3 will continue today (June 6) with the remaining four clashes, including Song Lam Nghe An vs SHB Da Nang, Quang Nam FC vs Thanh Hoa FC, Quang Ninh Coal vs newbies Hong Linh Ha Tinh, and reigning champions Hanoi FC vs Hoang Anh Gia Lai.
