Nam Dinh thrash HAGL 4-0: First-half collapse, Xuan Son seals stoppage-time

The V-League witnessed an unexpected demolition last weekend at Thien Truong Stadium as Nam Dinh hosted HAGL, the mountain-city team, and cruised to a 4-0 victory. Nobody anticipated the scenario where Nam Dinh would already lead 3-0 by halftime, thanks to a brace from Ezequiel and a goal from Romulo, before Xuan Son sealed the score in stoppage time (90+3). From the opening whistle, Nam Dinh pushed forward relentlessly, suffocating HAGL's buildup with high pressing. The home side continuously attacked through quick wide overlaps, where Ezequiel exploited spaces behind HAGL's full-backs. Goalkeeper Trung Kien made several brilliant saves to keep the score at 0-0 until the 37th minute. However, the intense pressure eventually broke HAGL's resistance. In the 44th minute, Ezequiel rose highest to head home a cross from the right. Two minutes later, in first-half stoppage time, he pounced on a loose ball in the box to make it 2-0. Almost immediately, Romulo's long-range effort in the 45+2 minute sealed the first-half demolition. The second half saw a completely different HAGL side. They pushed higher, pressed back, and created several clear-cut chances, but their finishing was poor or well-blocked. The closest they came was a shot just wide in the 73rd minute. As they chased a consolation goal, they left spaces at the back, allowing Xuan Son to add a fourth in the 90+3 minute after a defensive error. Tactically, the match highlighted Nam Dinh's energetic attacking approach and HAGL's passive first-half setup. Nam Dinh's high press and fast wing play overwhelmed HAGL, who struggled to cope. In the second half, HAGL improved and showed they could cause problems when they played with more courage and organization. But their inability to score highlighted a persistent issue – a lack of composure in front of goal. Ezequiel was the standout performer, directly involved in all three first-half goals with his pace and movement. Romulo also impressed with his midfield runs. For HAGL, goalkeeper Trung Kien was a rare bright spark, making several crucial saves. This loss will hurt HAGL psychologically. It exposed their defensive fragility under sustained pressure. However, their second-half performance offers a glimmer of hope – they looked dangerous when they played openly. The key will be maintaining consistent intensity and mental strength over 90 minutes. Xuan Son's late goal was a statement of Nam Dinh's title ambitions. They displayed class, character, and ruthless efficiency. For HAGL, they must recover quickly and learn from this heavy defeat to avoid slipping down the table. The match is over, but the tactical lessons remain. Nam Dinh showed their terrifying attacking power, while HAGL showed they have much work to do. The V-League is unforgiving, and this display will send a warning to all title rivals.