Xuân Son scored a stunning bicycle kick in the penultimate round of the V-League

The naturalized forward Nguyễn Xuân Son put on a dazzling display for Nam Định, scoring a hat-trick against SLNA, one of which was a spectacular overhead kick.

The Brazilian-born striker's three goals secured a 3-0 victory for the home side at Thiên Trường Stadium in round 25 of the 2025-2026 V-League. After a long goal drought, the 1997-born marksman rediscovered his scoring touch at just the right time, delivering an emotional night for fans in Nam Định.

From the opening minutes, Nam Định took control and applied constant pressure on the visitors' goal. The breakthrough came in the 14th minute when Kevin Pham Ba delivered a precise cross from the right flank into the area near the penalty spot.

Surrounded by SLNA defenders, Xuân Son leaped high to direct a clever header that bounced before nestling into the left corner of the net, opening the scoring for the hosts. However, the 28-year-old striker showed little emotion after his first goal.

The match's most notable moment came in the 30th minute. Following a smooth combination play from Nam Định, the ball was moved from the center to the right wing before Nguyễn Tuấn Anh sent a cross towards the far post.

Unmarked, Xuân Son executed a spectacular bicycle kick. The ball hit the ground and flew into the right corner of the goal, leaving goalkeeper Cao Văn Bình helpless despite a full-stretch dive.

A true masterpiece at Thiên Trường. After scoring, Xuân Son pouted, shrugged, and spread his arms toward Stand A – a celebration that reminded many of Cristiano Ronaldo's arrogant style in his moments of brilliance.

SLNA tried to push forward after the break but couldn't break through Nam Định's solid defense. In the 69th minute, the hosts sealed the match with a move showcasing Nguyễn Tuấn Anh's individual skill.

Receiving the ball from Trần Văn Đạt, the midfielder from Thái Bình displayed technical prowess, successively bypassing opposing defenders before also beating goalkeeper Văn Bình and then crossing low for Xuân Son to easily tap into an empty net, completing his hat-trick. This time, the Nam Định striker couldn't hide his joy. He ran to embrace Tuấn Anh, then crouched down and raised six fingers, affirming this was his sixth goal of the V-League season.

The performance against SLNA was even more meaningful as Xuân Son had previously gone seven consecutive rounds without scoring, including five starts. With this hat-trick, the naturalized striker raised his total V-League tally to 71 goals in 101 appearances, averaging 0.7 goals per game. It was also his eighth hat-trick in Vietnam's top football league.

The convincing win over SLNA lifted Nam Định to sixth place in the standings with 34 points, just one point behind the team directly above them, Công an TP.HCM.

In the final round on June 7, Nam Định will be away at Hải Phòng, a match between two teams that have largely achieved their objectives. Meanwhile, SLNA will face a crucial clash against PVF-CAND, who are at the bottom of the table and still fighting for survival.

For Xuân Son personally, his brilliant display against SLNA is a strong statement of his value as one of the most exciting strikers in the V-League this season.