Vietnam U23 player rewarded 300 million on the day his team lost the match

Vietnam U23 center-back Nguyễn Nhật Minh was awarded 300 million VND just before the match started at Lạch Tray, yet Hải Phòng was defeated 1-2 by Thể Công - Viettel, thanks to Lucao’s brace.

Center-back Nhật Minh was honored by Hải Phòng club leadership and sponsors, receiving a 300 million VND bonus after helping the Vietnam U23 team win the SEA Games 33 gold medal and finish third at the 2026 AFC U23 Championship final tournament.

On the evening of January 31, Lạch Tray stadium witnessed a special moment before kickoff, as center-back Nguyễn Nhật Minh was honored and received a 300 million VND bonus for his remarkable successes with Vietnam’s U22/U23 teams recently. However, Nhật Minh’s joy could not change Hải Phòng’s fate, as the team still lost 1-2 to Thể Công - Viettel in round 12 of the 2025/26 V-League.

Nhật Minh (born in 2003) just returned from the 2026 AFC U23 Championship and is regarded as a promising new face in Hải Phòng football. His reward by local leaders right before the match was a notable highlight, especially as Lạch Tray welcomed several U23 players recently rejoining their squads, notably Khuất Văn Khang from Thể Công - Viettel.

Coach Chu Đình Nghiêm introduced Nhật Minh in the second half, and his presence helped Hải Phòng improve their play. In the first half, Thể Công – Viettel dominated possession and quickly pressured Hải Phòng’s defense, resulting in a penalty goal by Lucao – a striker who previously spent two years at Hải Phòng.

However, in the second half, after coach Chu Đình Nghiêm made several changes including bringing Nhật Minh on, Hải Phòng played more cohesively and managed to equalize through Joel Tagueu. But a defensive error led to Hải Phòng conceding a second goal, again by Lucao. This time, the team from the port city could not recover.

The three points at Lạch Tray allowed coach Velizar Popov’s team to climb back into the top 3 with 22 points after 11 matches, continuing their pursuit of the championship. Hải Phòng dropped to 4th place, ending an emotional evening without a perfect outcome, even though Nhật Minh had his memorable moment of recognition.

Nhật Minh was a key figure for Vietnam’s U22/U23 teams at SEA Games 33 and the recent AFC U23 Championship. Alongside Hiểu Minh and Lý Đức, he formed a solid central defensive trio that led Vietnam to many impressive victories lately. He is considered one of the most important players for coach Kim Sang-sik during this journey.