Beating Hanoi B in playoff, Nam Dinh FC successfully escape relegation

* V.League: XSKT Can Tho relegated, Nam Dinh FC qualify for playoff

* Hanoi FC dominate VPF’s titles for 2018 V.League season

Highly determined to book a place in the 2019 V.League, both teams proactively went on the attack right from the first whistle. Nam Dinh FC could not play their strongest squad as their foreign players, Diogo Pereira and Romario Kortzorg, were disqualified for the playoff according to regulations. Notably, Pereira was the northern team’s leading goal scorer with seven goals after 10 matches in the V.League.

Meanwhile, despite being considered the underdogs, Hanoi B surprisingly overwhelmed the V.League club in the first 45 minutes and created several opportunities on Nam Dinh keeper Quoc Thien Esele’s goal.

After a goalless first half, the two sides made some tactical adjustments and created a number of opportunities to break the deadlock, however, none of them were successfully converted into an opening goal throughout the remainder of the match.

Failing to score in the official 90 minutes of play, Nam Dinh FC and Hanoi B had their fates decided by a tense penalty shoot-out, in which manager Nguyen Van Sy’s made no mistakes with five successful conversions in a row, compared to just three by the Hanoi side.

With the thrilling victory, Nam Dinh FC have sneaked through the “narrow door” to secure the last berth in the 2019 V.League.

Nam Dinh FC players celebrate after beating Hanoi B. (Photo: dantri.com.vn)