Waiting for Cong Phuong to score in the First Division

Good start

The 2024-2025 National First Division kicked off last weekend with a general sense of caution and reserve. Apart from Ba Ria - Vung Tau's 4-1 victory over Dong Nai, the remaining 4 matches only had 3 goals scored (2 draws 0-0). There was 1 home team and 1 away team that won, meaning that, apart from Ho Chi Minh City Youth Club, which was absent in round 1, the 2 teams that have yet to score are Dong Nai and Khatoco Khanh Hoa.

Few goals but it can be said that most of the teams were satisfied with the score on the opening day. The appearance of the stars was a significant attraction, to signal optimism with the presence of about 12,500 fans coming to 5 stadiums to watch live (an average of 2,500 people/match). The final round of the 2023-2024 season had only 3,400 people coming to the stadium.

At the match between Khanh Hoa and Phu Dong Ninh Binh, about 4,000 fans came to the stadium on August 19. That number shows that fans have not turned their backs on the club that was relegated from the V.League and was still struggling before the season, but it can also be understood that among them, there were many people who came because of Hoang Duc and Van Lam in the away team.

Ninh Binh takes the lead?

While Van Lam made some important saves - following on from his two penalty saves in the National Cup, Hoang Duc scored his first goal in his new shirt, bringing home 3 points for Ninh Binh. Therefore, it is not too much to say that Ninh Binh will be the destination on Sunday afternoon (November 3), when coach Nguyen Viet Thang's team meets Long An at their home stadium with a current capacity of 22,000. Will Ninh Binh fans fill the stands and wait for a big win?

But before coming to Ninh Binh, Binh Phuoc is the place that attracts attention. Notably, Truong Tuoi Binh Phuoc will host Khanh Hoa, so people can wait to see if Cong Phuong can do the same as Hoang Duc. Cong Phuong also scored his first goal in the first match against Binh Phuoc, but in the National Cup. And in the opening match of the 2024-2025 First Division at Hoa Binh Stadium, witnessed by about 5,500 fans, the 29-year-old striker had certain difficulties in finding opportunities.

Binh Phuoc has never beaten Khanh Hoa in 4 meetings in V.League 2, and has not even scored in 4 matches with a score of 1-0 (3 home matches). With Cong Phuong and strong investment in Sy Giap, Ngoc Duc, Tan Sinh, Tuan Tai, Thanh Binh in the squad, this is an opportunity for the "Green Warriors" to break the curse.

After a resounding victory in round 1, Ba Ria - Vung Tau will rest in round 2, so the possibility of losing the top spot is very high. Meanwhile, Ho Chi Minh City Youth Club will officially start the 2024-2025 First Division with a trip to Dong Thap. Ho Chi Minh City Youth is the team that "swapped bodies" with Ninh Binh, so it will not be an easy start.

PVF-CAND meets Hoa Binh and Hue visits Dong Nai in the remaining 2 matches of round 2 of the 2024-2025 National First Division.