HAGL collapse in the first half, Nam Dinh win 4-0

In the early hours of May 25, at Thien Truong Stadium, Nam Dinh produced a dazzling performance, thrashing HAGL 4-0 in a V-League round 12 match. Home fans enjoyed an explosive evening with a series of goals, while the opposing 'Mountain City team' left the pitch in utter disappointment. This defeat not only reflects the gap in strength but also poses a painful problem for HAGL's coaching staff in the coming journey. Before the match, Nam Dinh were rated higher thanks to home advantage and stable form. HAGL, although not highly rated, still had promising young talents. However, right from the referee's opening whistle, the home side showed great determination. They pushed high, pressed intensely, and immediately put tremendous pressure on goalkeeper Trung Kien's goal. In the first 30 minutes, Trung Kien made consecutive saves against dangerous shots from Ezequiel and his teammates. The goalkeeper's excellence helped HAGL hold on to a 0-0 scoreline, but that was only an inevitable postponement. In the 37th minute, Nam Dinh's pressure finally paid off. From a quick attack down the right flank, a Nam Dinh defender delivered a cross that was perfectly set for a striker to tap in from close range. The goal ignited Thien Truong Stadium. However, the most horrific moment was yet to come in the final minutes of the first half. In the 44th minute, Ezequiel, with incredible speed, broke through to face the HAGL goalkeeper and slotted home to make it 2-0. Just two minutes later, in added time (45+2), Romulo scored a clever header from a corner to seal a 3-0 halftime lead. The home side scored three goals in just eight minutes, turning the second half into almost a formality. Few expected HAGL to collapse so quickly. The entire away team seemed to fall into a void after the first goal. Their defense lost its solidity in set-piece situations and under pressure. If the first half was a disaster, the second half saw the Mountain City team partly regain confidence. HAGL's head coach made sensible tactical adjustments by pushing the team higher and strengthening attacking power. As a result, they controlled more possession and constantly created dangerous opportunities toward the home goal. However, finishing remained a persistent weakness, as they failed to convert clear-cut chances into goals. In the 52nd minute, HAGL had their first clear chance when a winger unleashed a powerful long-range shot, but the Nam Dinh goalkeeper dived to save. In the 73rd minute, from a corner, a HAGL defender rose high to head the ball, hitting the post—their biggest regret of the match. As the game entered its final phase, HAGL pushed forward in search of a consolation goal. Yet, that overcommitment cost them in the third minute of stoppage time. From a lightning counterattack, Xuan Son, Nam Dinh's main striker, cut past a defender and blasted a shot into the far corner, leaving the HAGL goalkeeper rooted to the spot. 4-0 was the final scoreline. Tactically, Nam Dinh displayed a frustrating attacking style, constantly using high-speed overlaps down the flanks. Their full-backs frequently pushed forward, creating unpredictability and forcing HAGL's defense to stretch, exposing lethal gaps. Ezequiel was the focal point with his tireless runs into the box. Although specific statistics such as xG or possession share were not provided, it was clear that Nam Dinh dominated their opponents for almost the entire match. HAGL, on the other hand, adopted a low block in the first half and waited for counterattacking opportunities. However, they could not withstand the suffocating pressure from the home side. Despite this disaster for HAGL, it is undeniable that the second half showed marked improvement. If their attack had been more clinical, the outcome could have been different. This proves HAGL are not a weak collective; rather, they lack sharpness in finishing and composure in crucial moments. For the Mountain City supporters, this defeat is a shock, but also an opportunity for the team to reflect on their issues. Key players such as Trung Kien—who made at least five outstanding saves in the first half—and his teammates need to draw valuable lessons from this match. Sports media used strong words like 'collapse' and 'nightmare' to describe HAGL's performance. That partly adds more pressure on the team in the coming period. Fans may feel disappointed, but they can also look at the second half to hope for a quick recovery. In the fiercely competitive V-League, bouncing back after a heavy defeat is never easy. HAGL must immediately address defensive errors and improve their fighting spirit from the start of matches if they do not want to suffer further setbacks. Looking back at the match, it is clear that Nam Dinh executed their early-pressure strategy perfectly to finish off the opponent. HAGL may regret the lack of concentration at the end of the first half, as they could have gained something from this game. But football is like that; mistakes are always punished by the results on the pitch. This defeat serves as a wake-up call for the entire HAGL squad while reaffirming Nam Dinh's ambitions this season.