Nam Dinh Escapes the Nightmare of 186 Days in V-League

Nam Dinh overturned the deficit to beat Ninh Binh 3-2, putting an end to their 186-day period without a victory in the V-League.

Nam Dinh finally rediscovered the feeling of winning in the V-League after a long stretch of 186 days knowing only draws and losses. The 3-2 comeback victory over Ninh Binh at Thien Truong Stadium on the evening of March 1st, in Matchweek 14 of the 2025/2026 season, not only secured 3 points but also relieved the heavy pressure that had been weighing on the defending champions for the past 7 months.

On the official fanpage, a concise message “Giving up is the greatest failure, but Nam Dinh did not give up!” served as a declaration of the team's fighting spirit. Few would have thought that the squad, which had won the V-League twice consecutively and possessed a lineup valued at over 400 billion VND according to Transfermarkt, would find itself in such a dismal run of form on the domestic stage.

Nam Dinh's last victory before this occurred in Matchweek 3, when they defeated PVF-CAND on August 27, 2025. From that point until the match against Ninh Binh, the yellow-shirted team experienced 6 draws and 4 defeats, losing the dominant image they had projected in the two previous seasons. The figure of 186 days without a win became clear evidence of the champions' rare crisis.

This turbulent period also witnessed significant changes in the coaching staff. Coach Vu Hong Viet left the "hot seat", making way for Mauro Jeronimo, before "Red Viet" himself returned to lead the team just days before Matchweek 14. This reappearance quickly yielded positive results as Nam Dinh immediately regained the joy of victory.

However, the 3 points against Ninh Binh did not significantly improve Nam Dinh's position in the standings. Coach Vu Hong Viet's side remains in 9th place with 15 points after 14 matches, trailing league leaders CAHN by 20 points, who have also played one fewer game. This gap indicates the challenging road ahead.

Another bright spot came from Nguyen Xuan Son, who scored the equalizer to make it 2-2 and ended his personal 4-match goalless streak in the V-League. The return to form of the striker born in 1997, who is also performing impressively in the ASEAN Champions Cup, is significant not only for Nam Dinh but also a positive signal for the Vietnam National Team ahead of the final 2027 Asian Cup qualifying round. After 186 days of waiting, Nam Dinh can finally breathe a sigh of relief and hope for a new cycle of revival.