(Live football) - Nam Dinh is set to welcome their Japanese opponents, Gamba Osaka, at Thien Truong Stadium.
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Nam Dinh has yet to secure their first win under new coach Nguyen Trung Kien after drawing two consecutive games against Da Nang and HAGL. Being held to draws by two weaker teams indicates Nam Dinh still faces challenges. The coaching change mainly affects morale since coach Vu Hong Viet remains as Technical Director and continues to influence tactics.
Compared to recent V-League matches where squad issues were apparent, Nam Dinh will fully utilize their foreign players available for the AFC Champions League Two. However, the team’s cohesion and fluidity when relying heavily on foreign players remain lacking, resulting in unimpressive performances in the Asian Cup 2.
Although playing at home now, it’s worth remembering that a recent heavy 1-3 defeat to Gamba Osaka led to coach Vu Hong Viet’s dismissal. The Japanese side uses few foreign players but displays well-organized, cohesive attacking strategies and solid defense.
Currently, Nam Dinh stands second in Group F with 6 points, 3 points ahead of Ratchaburi. To maintain their second place and secure progression, the team must aim for at least a draw against Gamba Osaka before focusing on the remaining group matches.
Nam Dinh: Caique, Van Kien, Walber, Lucao, Dijks, Brenner, Romulo, Hudlin, Hansen, Muzi Tau, Eid Mahmoud.
Gamba Osaka: Higashiguchi, Kurokawa, Nakatani, Miura, Handa, Mito, Suzuki, Yamashita, Usami, Okunuki, Hummet.