SHB Da Nang's Race to Stay in V-League: Water Has Reached Their Feet

Despite narrowly escaping relegation in the playoff last season, SHB Da Nang appears to have failed to draw lessons from it. When the 2025/26 season reached its critical stage, the Han River football club plunged further to the bottom of the table. Confidence is still vested in coach Le Duc Tuan, yet time and chances are dwindling.

SHB Da Nang is facing a familiar but more dangerous crossroads than ever. After 18 rounds, the team underCoach Le Duc Tuanhas fallen to the last position with only 12 points, continuing to confront the prospect of having to "escape death" as they did last season.

What is noteworthy is that this scenario is not unexpected; it is the consequence of a prolonged decline thatthe Central region clubhas yet to find an escape route.

Last season, SHB Da Nang had to play a playoff match against Binh Phuoc to retain their V-League spot. That moment should serve as a wake-up call for any club.

Instead of undergoing a strong restructuring, the Han River club entered the new season with the same old issues. The club lacks stability, lacks identity, and particularly has a fragile defense.

The figure of 30 goals conceded after 18 rounds is clear evidence. SHB Da Nang's scoring ability is not too bad compared to the bottom group, but the way the club allows goals makes all efforts meaningless. From constantly changing goalkeepers due to Bui Tien Dung's serious injury, then switching to Van Biểu and Van Toan, to individual mistakes in the defensive line, all contribute to a disjointed collective.

In that context, the club parting with Chairman Vu Nam Thang right before round 19 is a noteworthy move. It shows that the pressure for results has reached its peak.

Currently, the leadership still decides to give coach Le Duc Tuan another chance. This choice may stem from the players' wishes, who still trust their coach. However, trust in professional football always comes with limits. For SHB Da Nang, that limit might be the match against Nam Dinh in round 19.

The opponent for the Chi Lang Stadium host is not only stronger but also very eager for points in the race for the top 3. Under coach Vu Hong Viet's guidance, Nam Dinh had a streak of 5 consecutive wins before unexpectedly losing to HAGL, a match affected by a controversial referee decision. Therefore, Nam Dinh will enter their away trip to Chi Lang with high determination to reaffirm their position.

SHB Da Nang enters the match with unstable psychology. This club has failed to win in 5 consecutive matches, including 3 losses. Even Chi Lang Stadium, once expected to be a stronghold, no longer provides a clear advantage. After the rare 3-0 victory over PVF CAND upon renaming, SHB Da Nang only gained one more point from a lucky draw against HAGL.

What is more concerning is the upcoming schedule. After Nam Dinh, SHB Da Nang will successively face The Cong Viettel and Hanoi FC, two opponents competing in the top group. If they fail to accumulate points during this phase, the risk of "sinking completely" is very clear. Even the subsequent match against Becamex TP.HCM could become a "reverse final" deciding the season's fate.

In reality, SHB Da Nang does not lack potential. But the club's problem lies in its direction. Frequent coach changes in recent seasons and problematic squad preparation have impacted the relegation battle.

The club has prepared replacement plans if coach Le Duc Tuan cannot improve the situation, with names like coach Tran Minh Chiến or Japanese coach Yusuke Adachi being considered.

In the relegation race, the most important thing might not be major changes but stability and fighting spirit. SHB Da Nang still has 8 rounds to save themselves. The point gap is not impossible to bridge, as the Central region club is only 1 point behind PVF CAND and 4 points behind the 12th-placed Thanh Hoa.