Van Hau brings great news to the Vietnam national team, Coach Kim Sang Sik breathes a sigh of relief

While fans nationwide were concerned about Van Hau’s status after his moment of leaving the pitch in the CAHN game, a hopeful signal appeared that brought relief to all.

CAHN’s 3-2 victory over Ninh Binh in the 12th round of the V-League ended with concerns about Doan Van Hau. The 1999-born defender had to leave the field in the second half due to pain in his right calf, requiring stretcher assistance. At that moment, the Hang Day crowd fell silent as they watched him limp off the pitch.

However, post-match reports somewhat alleviated the worries. Van Hau was able to walk normally without any bandages and even came down to celebrate with his teammates. This sign indicated that the physical issue was not too serious, especially considering he had just recently returned to play after a long injury recovery period.

From the CAHN coaching staff, assistant coach Pham Thanh Luong said the medical team is still awaiting test results to determine the exact extent of the injury. However, initial assessments suggest it is likely only a soft tissue injury in the lower right calf, a type of injury that does not require a long recovery period.

Before leaving the field, Van Hau made a strong impact on the left flank. He helped win a penalty after a header caused the ball to hit an opponent’s hand, then directly crossed to assist a teammate in scoring to extend the lead. His energetic performance showed that the condition and ball control of the 1.86m tall defender are returning to their proper form.

For the Vietnam national team, this is timely good news. Coach Kim Sang Sik needs experienced players for the crucial upcoming matches, especially the big clash against Malaysia in the Asian Cup qualifiers on March 31. Van Hau’s indication of stable fitness gives the coaching staff a quality option and reduces the pressure of rotating the squad during a busy schedule.