Impressions of overseas Vietnamese stars in the opening match of V.League

Kevin Pham Ba is the overseas Vietnamese with the most impressive performance in round 1 of V.League 2025/26. Photo: Nam Dinh Green Steel .

The biggest attention was paid to Kevin Pham Ba's performance in Nam Dinh's shirt. Coming off the bench in the second half, the player of Vietnamese-French descent quickly left his mark with the goal that sealed the 2-1 win over Hai Phong .

That goal not only helped the team from Thanh Nam win all 3 points, but also showed Kevin's readiness to assert himself in the new season. In a team that already possesses many quality players, the fact that he took advantage of the opportunity right from the opening round was a big plus in the eyes of the coaching staff.

No less impressive, Chung Nguyen Do continued to prove why he is expected to be one of the most notable young faces this season. Coming on in the second half of the match between Ninh Binh and Ha Tinh , the Vietnamese-Bulgarian player played aggressively, confidently holding the ball and not afraid to challenge his opponents with technical dribbling.

He even directly contributed to the goal that sealed the 3-1 score in extra time, thereby ending a relatively complete V.League debut day.

In previous friendly matches, the hot weather also caused him many difficulties. However, Chung Nguyen Do in the official match showed clear adaptation. However, to truly become a mainstay, the player born in 2005 still needs more time to fully integrate into the harsh rotation of V.League.

At Thanh Hoa Stadium, Da Nang had a 1-1 draw with the home team. In this match, Vadim Nguyen also made a highlight in his first appearance in the V.League.

Given the opportunity in the second half, the 22-year-old midfielder was not afraid to compete and often performed technical moves. In the 80th minute, he had a situation where he turned around and then made a tricky pass, almost becoming a goal assist.

Before the tournament started, Vadim made a strong impression in a friendly tournament in Quang Nam with 1 goal and stable performance. Now, he continues to prove that he is worth waiting for in the Da Nang shirt.

Chung Nguyen Do has also "debuted" in V.League. Photo: Ninh Binh FC .

Besides the new faces, overseas Vietnamese familiar to V.League audiences also left their own mark. Viktor Le continued to maintain his stable performance when he contributed to Ha Tinh's opening goal. His ability to read situations well and his solid handling helped him become an important support in the midfield.

Meanwhile, Adou Minh, a new player of CAHN, quickly proved his worth when he was trusted by coach Mano Polking to play in the starting lineup. He was the only new player to start in the National Super Cup match more than a week ago. In the opening round of V.League, the player of Vietnamese-French blood continued to affirm his important role with a strong and decisive playing style.

In a completely different position, Patrik Le Giang became the bright spot in the goal of the HCM City Police Department. This overseas Vietnamese goalkeeper repeatedly denied the golden opportunities of the Hanoi stars, contributing greatly to the victory of the police team on the opening day.

Not only stopping at saving goals, he also plays a leadership role by constantly commanding the defense, reminding and encouraging his teammates. In the context that the city team is in need of certainty to create a solid foundation, Patrik's performance brings a lot of confidence to the coaching staff as well as the fans.

Of course, not all overseas Vietnamese have the opportunity to debut immediately. Brandon Ly - a player who grew up in the Burnley training academy, has not yet appeared in the CAHN shirt. Fans are waiting for the day he is given the opportunity to prove his ability.

Similarly, Damian Vu is not on the list of players registered for The Cong Viettel. In the context that both CAHN and Viettel have experienced and qualified personnel in similar positions, competing for a place on the field for these faces is certainly not easy.

Round 1 of V.League 2025/26 ended with a series of different impressions. But in the group of overseas Vietnamese players, their presence has created a new color for the tournament. From familiar faces who are playing a core role, to young rookies who have just stepped into a harsh environment, all are promising to bring more surprises in the road ahead.

Source: https://znews.vn/dau-an-dan-sao-viet-kieu-o-tran-mo-man-vleague-post1578012.html