* Goals: Ti Phong 36’, 40’ – Patrick 81’

In the 58th minute, with Nam Dinh leading 2-0, Mahmoud Eid raced for the ball and committed a foul by shoulder-barging Faris Hammouti. After Hammouti had fallen outside the touchline, Eid deliberately kicked him. The incident occurred right in front of the assistant referee.

The Palestinian forward's action angered the Svay Rieng players, especially center-back Odawara and midfielder Patrick, forcing the referee to intervene. Although the kick wasn't forceful, Eid was shown a straight red card by referee Kim Woo-sung for violent conduct.

Nam Dinh forward Mahmoud Eid (white shirt) kicks Faris Hammouti, leading to a straight red card in the 58th minute of the 2-1 win against Svay Rieng in Group B of the 2025-2026 Southeast Asian Club Cup, at Thien Truong Stadium, Ninh Binh on 25/9/2025. Screenshot.

Mahmoud Eid's needless red card made things difficult for Nam Dinh in the latter stages of the match. The team entered the home game with their morale affected by a 2-0 defeat to Ninh Binh in round 4 of the V-League on 22/9. Coach Vu Hong Viet also changed the entire starting lineup to rotate players, as the team will face Cong An Ha Noi in the V-League on 28/9, and then Hong Kong Eastern in the AFC Champions League Two on 2/10.

The lack of regular playing time together resulted in a disjointed performance from Nam Dinh. The team suffered setbacks like Lam Ti Phong requiring a head bandage due to bleeding, and left-back Mitchell Dijks leaving the field injured in the 29th minute. Meanwhile, Svay Rieng dominated possession and created several good chances in the first half.

In the third minute, Kwame Peprah got past Walber Motta on the right wing and entered the penalty area, but goalkeeper Caique rushed out to narrow the angle and made a save. In the 25th minute, Kwame dribbled the ball on the left wing and then poked a pass into the box. Ratanak Min faced the goalkeeper, but his placed shot towards the right corner was unsuccessful.

After weathering the initial pressure, Nam Dinh responded effectively. In the 29th minute, Percy Tau combined with Eid and shot with his left foot, but the ball hit Krisrtoffer Hanse. Lam Ti Phong was there for the rebound in a clear position, but his shot missed the left post.

Lam Ti Phong (left, white shirt) scored a brace to help Nam Dinh win 2-1 against Svay Rieng. Photo: Hoang Huynh.

However, the home team didn't have to rue their missed chances for long. In the 36th minute, Tran Van Cong's long-range shot was saved by goalkeeper Vireak Dara. The ball rebounded perfectly for Lucas Alves to pass into the center of the penalty area for Ti Phong to tap in from close range, opening the scoring. Four minutes later, Hansen's right-footed curler from outside the box hit the right post. Ti Phong seized the opportunity to shoot into the empty net, completing a quick brace.

The two-goal lead boosted Nam Dinh's confidence. However, Mahmoud Eid's red card made the final 30 minutes more challenging.

In the 64th minute, Nam Dinh nearly conceded. Kwame beat the offside trap and chipped the ball over goalkeeper Caique, hitting the crossbar before Patrick's volley went over the bar. In the 81st minute, Patrick's long-range shot from about 25 meters deflected off Lucas Alves and went into the right corner, leaving the goalkeeper rooted to the spot.

The pressure intensified in the final 15 minutes, including stoppage time. Coach Vu Hong Viet had to substitute Hansen and Tran Van Cong, replacing them with Van Dat and Dang Van Toi to bolster the team's fighting spirit. The experience of Lucas Alves and goalkeeper Caique helped the home side secure a 2-1 victory.

This result gives Nam Dinh their first win in the Southeast Asian Club Cup and takes them above Svay Rieng into second place in Group B. Both teams have three points, but Nam Dinh are ahead on head-to-head record. Meanwhile, Malaysian club Johor Darul Tazim lead the group with 6 points, having defeated Lion City Sailors 3-1 and Bangkok United 4-0.

The Group B matches will resume on 4/12. Nam Dinh will travel to face Myanmar club Shan United, while Bangkok United and Svay Rieng will host Lion City Sailors and Johor respectively.

Starting Lineups:

Nam Dinh: Caique, Tran Van Kien, Lucas Alves, Michell Dijks (To Van Vu 29’), Walber Motta, Kristoffer Hansen (Tran Van Dat 87’), Mahmoud Eid, A Mit, Tran Van Cong (Dang Van Toi 87’), Lam Ti Phong (Van Vi 46’), Percy Tau (Tran Ngoc Son 65’)

Svay Rieng: Vireak Dara, Faris Hammouti, Saret Krya (Yudai Ogawa 77’), Takashi Odawara, Soeuy Visal, Nhean Sosidan (Bounkong 46’), Patrick, Cristian (Kim Sokyuth 90’+4), Ryo Fujii, Min Ratanak (Sieng Chanthea 77’), Kwame Peprah.

Hieu Luong