Hà Nội FC struggles to get back into the V-League title race

Hà Nội FC lost to Ninh Bình in a match where coach Harry Kewell lamented, "That's football!" Attacking frequently but failing to score, then suffering a counterattack and losing is quite normal.

However, the fact that the defending champion Nam Định was defeated at home by a much weaker opponent, Becamex TP.HCM, was a huge shock not only for Nam Định’s fans but also for the entire V-League. Nam Định may have recruited up to 15 foreign players plus naturalized ones to conquer regional and continental tournaments, but domestically, especially in the V-League, it seems they have raised the white flag.

Both title contenders lost in the 7th round, while CAHN was held to a draw in Nghệ An, naturally paving the way for Ninh Bình to surge ahead. The team from the ancient capital Hoa Lư remains unbeaten, with 5 wins and 2 draws.

Ninh Bình’s playing style is quite versatile, starting from the midfield upwards, with Hoàng Đức orchestrating the game alongside the attacking duo Gustavo Henrique and Daniel Da Silva Dos Anjos. Goals can come from any direction, such as two recent set-piece situations at Hàng Đẫy stadium. The ball after leaving Hoàng Đức’s foot carries great threat, and not only Hà Nội’s defense but also many other clubs’ defensive systems have failed to effectively counter it.

Using offense to compensate for defense is a decent strategy, evidenced by Ninh Bình scoring 17 goals in just 7 matches (an average of nearly 2.5 goals per game). Ninh Bình even attacks opponents without possessing the ball. It sounds paradoxical, but if you observe their goals closely, they all originate from quick transitions, with a direct, face-to-face attacking style, thanks to the speed of the foreign forwards, Thanh Thịnh on the left wing, Ngọc Hà on the right, and young striker Quốc Việt. This constant threat makes every opponent’s heart race and legs tremble.