Nam Dinh found their winning stride again in the V-League, defeating Thanh Hoa 2-0 at Thanh Hoa Stadium on 17/10. The decisive goals came from Tran Ngoc Son in first-half stoppage time and a significant 86th-minute strike by Pham Tuan Hai, marking his debut goal for the club. This victory was a crucial turnaround for Nam Dinh, who had faced a 0-3 loss to Da Nang and a 1-1 draw with Ninh Binh in previous matches.

Tuan Hai's goal in the 86th minute was a moment of personal triumph and team relief. Tyler James Thai Crawford initiated the play with a somewhat fortunate dribble down the left wing before delivering a cross. The ball eluded Thanh Diep, allowing Tuan Hai to tap it into an open net from close range. This marked the striker's first goal for Nam Dinh after four appearances and his first goal in five months, since his time at Ha Noi FC in a 4-0 win against PVF-CAND (now People's Public Security FC).

Pham Tuan Hai (right) of Nam Dinh celebrates his 86th-minute goal in the 2-0 win over Thanh Hoa in Round 4 of V-League 2026-2027 at Thanh Hoa Stadium on 17/10/2026. *Photo: Nam Dinh FC*

Born in 1998, Pham Tuan Hai emerged from the Ha Noi youth academy. He has established himself as a top domestic forward in Vietnam, boasting 42 goals in 148 V-League matches and 10 goals in 41 national team appearances since 2021. The goal against Thanh Hoa relieved considerable pressure on Tuan Hai, who joined Nam Dinh at the start of the 2026-2027 season. He had experienced limited playing time and a dip in form at Ha Noi FC under Australian coach Harry Kewell, which led to him losing his national team spot.

Tuan Hai expressed renewed confidence after breaking his scoring drought. "In previous matches, I had scoring opportunities but missed them," he stated. "This goal gives me more confidence and motivation for upcoming games. My goal is to win one match at a time with Nam Dinh. I also always want to return to the national team. This is an honor for every player. If I get the chance, I am always ready to contribute and perform my best."

Nam Dinh's opening goal came in the first minute of first-half stoppage time, following a counter-attack that also eased pressure from the home side. Tran Ngoc Son delivered a cross from the right wing into the penalty area, where Lam Ti Phong made a touch. The ball then deflected off Lao midfielder Damoth Thongkhamsavath, changing direction and leaving goalkeeper Thanh Diep unable to react. Despite the 2-0 score, the match was balanced, with Thanh Hoa creating chances in the latter half of the first half and early second half but lacking a sharp striker. Nam Dinh, even without Nguyen Xuan Son and Ezequiel Santos, found success through their domestic talent, though Tuan Hai had also hit the crossbar in the 81st minute.

Tran Ngoc Son (white shirt) of Nam Dinh dribbles during the 2-0 win over Thanh Hoa in Round 4 of V-League 2026-2027 at Thanh Hoa Stadium on 17/10/2026. *Photo: Nam Dinh FC*

The victory propelled Nam Dinh to 4th place in the V-League with 7 points. Conversely, Thanh Hoa suffered their second loss of the season and extended their run to four consecutive games without a clean sheet, placing them 7th with one point less than Nam Dinh.

Starting Lineups:

Thanh Hoa: Nguyen Thanh Diep, Truong Thanh Nam, Trinh Van Loi, Doan Tuan Canh, Truong Duc Manh, Nguyen Van Tung, Damoth Thongkhamsavath, Di Mateo Lovric, Abdurakhmanov, Matheus Martins, Saliou Guindo.

Nam Dinh: Tran Nguyen Manh, A Mit, Tyler James Thai Crawford, Tran Manh Quynh, Tran Ngoc Son, Felix Eboa, Giap Tuan Duong, Lam Ti Phong, Romulo, Caio Cesar, Pham Tuan Hai.

Hieu Luong