Vietnam U23 key player delivers bad news, stretchered off the field

During the key fixture of round 12 in the 2025/26 V-League, Ninh Binh’s winning celebration soon gave way to worry when Vietnam U23 pillar Nguyen Thai Son had to leave the pitch on a stretcher because of an injury.

On the evening of February 1st (Vietnam time), CAHN hosted Ninh Binh at Hang Day Stadium in the spotlight match of round 12 of the 2025/26 V-League. After an intense chase, the home team came from behind to secure a 3-2 victory, thereby rising to the top of the standings with 29 points and ending Ninh Binh’s 11-match unbeaten streak in the V-League.

However, the triumph of the ancient capital team was overshadowed by the worrying injury of Nguyen Thai Son. The Vietnam U23 midfield key player was brought on early in the second half but had to be stretchered off at the 70th minute before making much impact.

Notably, this incident was not caused by a heavy collision but resulted from a spontaneous injury. The severity and recovery time for Thai Son remain undetermined.

Not long ago, after nearly a decade, Thai Son officially parted ways with Dong A Thanh Hoa to join Ninh Binh. Thanh Hoa was where he fully developed, evolving from a promising young talent into a midfield mainstay for both the V-League and Vietnam U23. On his personal page on January 26th, Thai Son emotionally described his time with his hometown club as “a part of his youth,” expressing deep gratitude to the place that nurtured his career.

Graduating from the Thanh Hoa youth academy, Thai Son gradually established his name and is regarded as one of Vietnam’s most promising young midfielders. At SEA Games 33 and the 2026 U23 Asian Championship, he was a standout contributor, playing a vital role in the national football success.

Thai Son’s early injury after joining Ninh Binh is certainly a significant blow to the club. Previously, the ancient capital team announced the successful signings of Thai Son along with Le Van Thuan and Nguyen Ngoc My, viewing this as a strategic move to build a youthful, talented, and deep squad. Now, fans can only wait for positive news from the medical team and hope for Thai Son’s swift return to the pitch.