Song Lam Nghean claimed a narrow victory over Bac Ninh in the opening round of Vietnam's V. League 1, winning 1-0 at home on Saturday. The result puts the hosts three points clear in the table after their first match of the season.
And here's the thing — the game was decided before the penalty. Nguyen Van Dat picked up two bookings in five minutes, earning a red card at the 33rd minute. By then Song Lam had to reshuffle, and the numerical advantage would prove decisive.
Bruno Paraiba converted the spot-kick in the 71st minute to break the deadlock. To be fair, the hosts never really looked in control despite their advantage, but they held their composure when it mattered. Bac Ninh pushed for an equaliser but could not find a way through.
That win moves Song Lam up to seventh place with three points from one game. Bac Ninh remain in ninth after their first defeat, sitting on zero points. The contrast with their recent form is stark — Bac Ninh had won 2-1 against Hng Yen in their last outing before this opening round.
We had backed the home side before kick-off with ninety per cent confidence. The prediction came through, though not without tension. Song Lam had lost four of their previous five matches, including heavy defeats, but this time they found a way to grind out the result.