Xuan Son adrift amid Nam Dinh FC's 'crisis'

Three straight V-League games without a goal, Xuan Son's ineffectiveness during Nam Dinh's poor run has left many who admire him deeply disappointed. This may affect the mentality and finishing prowess of the Vietnamese national team's most highly regarded forward before the crucial fixture against Malaysia.

The 0-1 defeat to The Cong Viettel in the rescheduled Round 10 match not only signaled Nam Dinh's surrender in the title race but also exposed the attacking line's stagnation.

Xuan Son was once the symbol of victory forNam Dinh Football Clubnow struggling to rediscover its identity on familiar ground.

Xuan Son had a chance in the match on February 24th. It was a classy close-range turn-and-shoot, a familiar positioning move inside the box.

But goalkeeper Van Viet produced a brilliant save to deny the goal. This moment seemed to encapsulate the naturalized striker's experience since returning to Nam Dinh this year.Xuan Sonputs in effort and shows determination, but the goal-scoring touch is absent.

Three goalless matches in the V-League is not an excessively long drought in football. But for a striker who broke the scoring record in the 2023/24 season with 31 goals and played a major role in Nam Dinh FC's first-ever championship, it is an alarming dry spell for his own ambitions.

The 1997-born forward is the tactical fulcrum, the focal point of all attacking moves. When Son is out of rhythm, the entire system falters. Nam Dinh this season lacks its former explosiveness. The club was eliminated early from the continental arena, is struggling for breath in the V-League, and looks vulnerable in its two remaining targets: the National Cup and the ASEAN Club Championship.

The change in the coaching staff has yet to provide a clear boost. The style of play has become monotonous, overly reliant on feeding the ball to Son to create chances in the penalty area. Nam Dinh is being easily figured out by opponents.

On a personal level, the pressure on Xuan Son is immense. Even when teammates entrusted him with a penalty kick against Thanh Hoa, Son still missed. That was a disappointing draw, contributing to Nam Dinh being caught in a relegation battle spiral this season.

More concerning is what lies ahead. The important match for the Vietnamese national team against Malaysia is approaching, and Kim Sang Sik still views Xuan Son as his primary attacking spearhead. In a context where Vietnam's attack needs a breakthrough, Son's role becomes even more crucial. However, if he carries the baggage of a goal drought at his club, many may worry about his scoring form.

Immediately ahead for Xuan Son and his teammates is another highly demanding challenge. Nam Dinh will host Ninh Binh at 6:00 PM on March 1st in Round 14 of the 2025/26 V-League. A clash of considerable disparity between two clubs currently in contrasting form.

Nam Dinh remains the defending champion, but this season may only hope to avoid relegation, while Ninh Bình, a V-League newcomer, is at its peak and competing for the top spot.

The pressure to score will undoubtedly make things even more difficult for Xuan Son in that match. It will be yet another test for the nation's top striker at this moment. It's evident that, following a serious injury at the 2024 ASEAN Cup, Xuan Son once again faces a severe challenge in his career.

Xuan Son's football journey in the S-shaped land has not been all smooth sailing, and now is the time for the 1997-born striker to demonstrate his character. How Xuan Son responds will define his caliber. He has previously proven his fearsome scoring instinct, and a V-League goal now could help him release psychological pressure.

Nam Dinh FC also needs to change to save its star player. A more flexible attacking system that shares the goal-scoring burden instead of piling all expectations onto one individual would allow Son to play more freely.