Xuân Son 'invisible', Nam Định coach reveals surprising reason

Nam Định controlled the game against Becamex TP.HCM but failed to win, with Xuân Son being effectively neutralized and coach Vũ Hồng Việt highlighting the crucial cause underlying this display.

The 1-1 draw between Thép xanh Nam Định and Becamex TP.HCM at Bình Dương stadium on April 25th evoked mixed emotions. The home team started dreamily with Việt Cường scoring in the 2nd minute after Minh Khoa's assist. The early goal boosted Becamex TP.HCM's confidence, allowing them to maintain a tight grip on the game for most of the first half and causing significant difficulties for the visiting side.

Meanwhile, Nam Định, despite controlling possession and attempting to deploy their style of play, remained stagnant against the opponent's solid defense. Their clearest opportunity was Xuân Son's header in the 41st minute, which failed to beat goalkeeper Minh Toàn. Notably, the main striker's 'silence' became a major focal point, and after the match, coach Vũ Hồng Việt candidly shared the reasons behind it.

Entering the second half, Nam Định pushed their formation higher, aligning with their attacking philosophy. After numerous efforts, they were rewarded with a superb strike in the 66th minute when Giáp Tuấn Dương fired a long-range shot from nearly 30 meters, driving the ball straight into the corner of the net to equalize 1-1. However, advancing their formation also exposed many gaps and left them vulnerable to dangerous counterattacks from the opponent.

Evaluating the overall performance, coach Vũ Hồng Việt stated: "I am satisfied with the spirit and style of play of the players, but not satisfied with the result as they could not score more effectively. In reality, Becamex TP.HCM's defense did not play exceptionally well. They left many gaps for us to exploit, especially spaces behind their defensive line. But we failed to capitalize on such opportunities."

Explaining Xuân Son's neutralization, Mr. Việt emphasized: "Currently, against any opponent, they seek ways to neutralize Xuân Son. Son is a highly dangerous central striker. Unfortunately, in today's match, we lacked the service of foreign player Chadrac Akolo due to injury; his injury significantly affected the coordination with Son in the attack."

In the final minutes, tension escalated when Nam Định put the ball into the net in the 82nd minute, but Xuân Son's goal was disallowed for offside after VAR consultation. On the other side, Việt Cường nearly decided the match in added time but his shot missed the post. The draw concluded with much regret, especially as the reason behind Xuân Son's 'silence' was clearly identified.