Nam Dinh's coach comments on former teammate Luis Suarez

Not only satisfied with Lam Ti Phong's two goals, Coach Vu Hong Viet also highly praised goalkeeper Caique Santos for his outstanding performance in goal.

Nam Dinh Club had a good start in the group stage of the 2025/26 Southeast Asian Club Cup by defeating Svay Rieng (Cambodia) 2-1 at their home ground, Thien Truong. Although the opponent played with one less player from the 60th minute following Mahmoud Eid’s red card, Nam Dinh still had to put in great effort to secure their first victory.

After the match, Coach Vu Hong Viet expressed his satisfaction with his players’ performance, especially goalkeeper Caique Santos, a former teammate of Luis Suarez. He commented: “In the last two matches, one in the AFC Cup 2 and today in the Southeast Asian Club Cup, I have seen Caique’s strong skills. His reflexes and ability to initiate counterattacks are excellent. This outstanding performance played a crucial role in helping us win, as Caique made several critical saves against dangerous chances from the opponent.”

When asked about Mahmoud Eid’s red card, Nam Dinh’s coach frankly said he could not give a clear judgment yet: “Honestly, I didn’t see the situation clearly. I only noticed the contest happening on the opposite sideline, far from my position, and I haven’t reviewed the footage. Therefore, I cannot accurately evaluate that play.”

In attack, Coach Vu Hong Viet did not forget to praise Lam Ti Phong, who scored a brace to decide the match: “Today, Ti Phong played exceptionally well, scoring two goals. This is a positive sign for us as the schedule ahead will be quite packed.”

Regarding Lam Ti Phong’s injury, he reassured the fans: “According to the medical team, Ti Phong needed a few stitches near his eye, but it’s nothing serious. He will recover soon.”

The victory over Svay Rieng not only earned the first 3 points but also boosted Nam Dinh’s confidence for their journey in the Southeast Asian Club Cup and other competitions this season.