Football

Ryan Hà has been signed to help Hà Nội FC score more in the rest of the season. — Photo znews.vn

HÀ NỘI — Striker Ryan Hà is expected to improve Hà Nội FC's fire power after his surprise switch to the former champions.

The Vietnamese French player arrives in Hà Nội from Becamex Bình Dương, when the V.League 1's transfer market opens.

In his first season at the V.League 1 2022 he scored twice and made two assists in 17 matches, helping Khánh Hòa stay in the national premier league.

He moved to Bình Dương earier this season, playing four games mainly coming from the bench, but never managed a goal.

Hà Nội's current strikers, except for national Phạm Tuấn Hải, have not performed well. After 10 matches, young Nguyễn Văn Tùng and Nguyễn Văn Trường have not netted a single goal or assist.

The team currently sit in sixth place with 13 points.

In today's game, Hà Nội will play flying-high Nam Định which are top of the with with 22 points.

Although Nam Định's have scored 25 goals, what the team needed was Brazilian centre-back Lucas Alves de Araujo to strengthen the defence.

Lucas Alves de Araujo in action for Dinamo București in the Romanian league. He hopes to help Nam Định become a strong club in V.League 1. — Photo gsp.ro

Coming from Romanian Dinamo București, the 1.93m tall defender is confident he can help his new club and ready for his first home game.

"I think it will be a good match for us," he said.

"I am really focused for it and believe that we will take three points. Coming to Việt Nam I want to spread a never-give-up spirit that would help a club to be a strong one.

"I have been here for only two weeks and the Hà Nội game will be my first at home. I will have opportunity to meet with our supporters. It would be great moment and I am happy to see them."

Nam Định are in good form in V.League 1 and they have advantage of home soil where they have won four and drew one.

However, Hà Nội have been always an arch-rival to them. In the last 10 meets, Hà Nội won seven, drew one and lost only two.

Last season, Nam Định made many problems for Hà Nội in both two matches but they failed to win.

Meanwhile, Bình Dương will host Hồng Lĩnh Hà Tĩnh with both sides presenting their new contracts.

Hà Tĩnh will bring three new players midfielders Nguyễn Trọng Hoàng and Viktor Lê and striker Prince Ibara. While centre-back Janclesio Almeida Santos will try to prevent his former teammates from scoring to Bình Dương's sheet.

HCM City will entertain Bình Định at the Thống Nhất Stadium.

The hosts have suffered three losses in a row and a home ground win is needed to help coach Phùng Thanh Phương and his side remain in the safety zone.

However, this match would be hard for them when they will play without defender Nguyễn Thanh Thảo, who was banned three matches after hitting Nguyễn Văn Hạnh of Sông Lam Nghệ An in a previous match.

Ivorian striker Cheick Aymar Timité will also be sidelined due to his red card last week.

Bình Định will bring their best players as national goalkeeper Đặng Văn Lâm is also back in action and top striker Hà Đức Chinh is back scoring. — VNS