Van Hau brings bad news for Vietnam National Team

Defender Doan Van Hau was injured in CAHN's win against Ninh Binh FC in the 12th round of the V-League.

CAHN secured a thrilling 3-2 win against the league leaders Ninh Binh FC in the match of the 12th round of the V-League. However, the joy was marred when the police-affiliated team received some unfortunate news about their key defender.

Specifically, defender Doan Van Hau was unable to finish the match due to injury. After an individual play and a goal by Vietnamese overseas player Tran Thanh Trung, Van Hau suddenly experienced physical issues and had to be carried off the field on a stretcher. The 1999-born defender reportedly felt pain in his calf area, repeatedly showing discomfort and checking the spot before being unable to continue playing.

In the stands, coach Mano Polking, who was banned from coaching during this game, could not hide his worried expression for his player and the situation on the pitch.

Van Hau had only just returned to play in early December last yearafter struggling with injuries for more than two consecutive years. Since his comeback, the 1999-born defender quickly secured the starting spot on CAHN's left flank, becoming the first-choice player and demonstrating the great trust coach Mano Polking places in him.

Nevertheless, this recent injury will likely force Van Hau to miss the crucial upcoming phase of the season with the police team. This risk also means his return to the Vietnam National Team might be further delayed. The last time the player from Thai Binh (now Hung Yen) played for the national squad was in June 2023, in a 1-0 friendly win against Syria.

This is clearly a difficult problem for coach Kim Sang Sik, as he still has not found a suitable player to fill the left flank position for the Vietnam National Team.

With just over a month left to prepare for the decisive match against Malaysia in the final round of the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers, Van Hau’s injury is likely to significantly affect the tactical plans the Korean coach is developing, directly impacting the goal of helping the "Golden Dragons" overcome their opponent and secure a spot in Asia’s most prestigious tournament.