On the afternoon of May 22, Truong Tuoi Dong Nai continued to move closer to the V.League promotion ticket after a 1-0 victory over TPHCM in round 20 of the national first division. The hero of the away team once again was Nguyen Cong Phuong with the decisive goal in the 2nd half.
Under the harsh sun on the Ba Ria field, coach Nguyen Viet Thang's team entered the game quite cautiously. Pillars like Tran Minh Vuong or Luong Xuan Truong no longer maintained their abundant physical foundation, so Truong Tuoi Dong Nai actively played slowly, prioritizing controlling the game.
In the first half, Ho Chi Minh City was the team that created the first dangerous opportunity when foreign player Jermie Lynch shot wide of the post in the 14th minute. It was not until the 28th minute that Truong Tuoi Dong Nai had a noteworthy response. Xuan Truong made a delicate through ball for Minh Vuong to escape to face goalkeeper Thanh Thang, but this midfielder did not handle it successfully in the final shot.
At the end of the first half, Minh Vuong continued to leave his mark with a dangerous long-range shot in the 43rd minute, forcing Thanh Thang to fly to save. However, the two teams still left the field for halftime with a 0-0 draw.
Stepping into the second half, coach Nguyen Viet Thang continuously adjusted personnel to increase attacking power. Nguyen Cong Phuong was brought on from the bench and quickly made a difference with movements that caused many difficulties for the opponent's defense.
In the 78th minute, from a smart offside trap breaking situation, Cong Phuong rushed down to face goalkeeper Thanh Thang before performing a technical lob to open the score for Truong Tuoi Dong Nai. This goal was also the only goal of the match, helping the away team win a minimal 1-0 victory.
With 3 points obtained, Truong Tuoi Dong Nai increased the total points to 47, leaving second-placed Bac Ninh 8 points behind. If they continue to defeat Long An in the next round, coach Nguyen Viet Thang's team will officially win the first division championship and win a direct promotion ticket to the V.League next season.
