Ninh Binh's debut with coach Chu Dinh Nghiem ends in a big victory

Coach Chu Dinh Nghiem's debut could not have gone better as Ninh Binh beat Thanh Hoa 2-0 in V-League 2025/26's Matchday 25, moving up to third position ahead of the last matchday.

Despite playing away at Thanh Hoa's stadium and missing key players like Nguyen Hoang Duc and Chau Ngoc Quang, Ninh Binh was still considered superior due to their squad depth. However, the visitors faced considerable difficulties against the hosts' disruptive counter-attacking style.

In the opening minutes, Thanh Hoa actually created more dangerous chances. In the 18th minute, from a precise cross by Nguyen Ba Tien on the right wing, Le Van Thang leaped high for a tricky header, but the ball narrowly missed the far post. Just minutes later, the home side again unsettled Ninh Binh's defense with another aerial challenge, but goalkeeper Dang Van Lam made an excellent save.

After a period of being pressured, Ninh Binh gradually regained control and organized repeated attacks. Their efforts paid off in the 34th minute. From a corner kick on the left side, Truong Tien Anh sent the ball into the near-post area, causing defender Huynh Minh Doan to nervously head it into his own net. This fortunate goal allowed Ninh Binh to go into halftime with a 1-0 lead.

The second half became even more favorable for the visitors as Thanh Hoa were reduced to ten men. In the 63rd minute, captain Doan Ngoc Tan received a straight red card after a dangerous foul on naturalized player Nguyen Tai Loc. The red card threw the hosts off balance and made it difficult for them to execute their game plan.

Taking advantage of the numerical superiority, Ninh Binh continuously applied pressure and doubled their lead in the 70th minute. Following a classy piece of play by Geovane Magno, former HAGL striker Nguyen Quoc Viet charged in to head home from close range, leaving the Thanh Hoa goalkeeper no chance. That goal sealed the match with a 2-0 victory for coach Chu Dinh Nghiem's side.

This result allowed Ninh Binh to increase their total points to 48 after 25 rounds,officially surpassing several rivals to move up to third place in the V-League standings. Meanwhile, Thanh Hoa continued to struggle, unable to improve their results in the final stage of the season.

The successful debut of coach Chu Dinh Nghiem brought positive signals for Ninh Binh ahead of the final matchday. With a high spirit and a favorable position on the table, the ancient capital team has every reason to aim for a memorable conclusion to this season.