Will the first team relegated from V-League soon be revealed?

Consecutive defeats in V-League and a tough schedule are pushing a club to the brink, as the safety gap widens and chances of survival gradually diminish.

Da Nang FC is facing a bleak prospect in V-League after a 0-1 loss to SLNA in round 18, a match they had to win to keep their survival hopes alive. This was the third consecutive defeat for the Han River-based club, sinking them deeper at the bottom of the standings and losing control in the survival race.

If the previous two losses against Hanoi Police FC could be explained by a class gap, the stumble at Vinh Stadium truly dealt a heavy blow to the team's morale. Regrettable "ifs" like Milan Makaric's missed chance, Ribamar's slip, or Do Phi Long's mistake only highlighted their misfortune. And this defeat itself pushed Da Nang FC closer to the risk of relegation.

Despite significant squad reinforcements after the first half with names like Vo Nguyen Hoang, Ribamar, Que Ngoc Hai, and Nguyen Van Toan, these changes haven't been enough to create a turnaround. Goalkeeper Van Toan once had a "perfect" performance, while Ribamar also scored 2 goals in 5 matches, but those were only rare bright spots in the overall gloomy picture.

The core issue of Da Nang FC lies in instability and lack of identity. This team currently ranks fourth worst in scoring and second worst in conceding, clearly reflecting weaknesses at both ends. Even though squad quality isn't inferior to rivals like SLNA, Thanh Hoa, or Ha Tinh, their on-field performance lacks vitality and fighting spirit.

One underlying cause is the squad being "diluted" by too many players from different places, causing the traditional identity to fade. Foreign players failing to meet expectations further make the team's play disjointed. Compared to the energetic image last season, Da Nang FC now lacks the necessary cohesion and determination.

Last season, coach Le Duc Tuan created a spectacular turnaround thanks to the "change of coach changes fortune" effect, helping the club survive successfully. However, this season, with Coach Tuan still in charge, the magic has vanished. Failures like against SLNA or the heavy 1-5 loss to Hanoi Police FC show the team hasn't truly responded correctly to the situation.

Meanwhile, direct competitors show impressive fighting spirit. Thanh Hoa, despite a thin squad, still earns points against strong opponents. SLNA maintains a "poor but resilient" style to climb to mid-table. HAGL with young players also doesn't shy away from fair play. All are striving match by match to survive.

Currently, Da Nang FC has 12 points, bottom of the V-League table, 1 point behind the playoff spot and 4 points behind the safe group. However, the upcoming schedule is extremely tough with opponents like Nam Dinh, The Cong Viettel, and Hanoi. If they don't "wake up" soon, this gap could easily widen, and the prospect of relegation will no longer be a warning, but become reality.