V-League Return Puts Hanoi FC and Dong Nai Coaches Under Pressure

V-League 1 has returned after the break for the international calendar, and the third round is being viewed as a milestone that could determine the future of several coaching positions. Among them, Hanoi FC is the center of all attention as they sit in an unwanted position with 0 points after the first two matches. For a club that has won the V-League six times, starting with two consecutive defeats is a scenario no one could have imagined before the season kicked off. More notably, coach Harry Kewell's side conceded seven goals in just two matches, including a 1-4 defeat at home to Song Lam Nghe An. A club with such a rich tradition being beaten by three goals at their own ground is an alarming signal about the defensive structure, game management, and even the mentality of the players. Previously, Hanoi FC suffered a 1-3 loss to Cong An Ha Noi in their opening match. Combined, the capital club has conceded seven times in two rounds, a figure that reflects a systemic collapse in the lower lines rather than isolated individual errors. Domestic media have begun to question coach Harry Kewell's ability to get the team back on track. For a foreign strategist who once had a name in international football, the pressure at Hanoi FC is clearly greater than at any other club at this stage. It is not just Hanoi FC; two other clubs are also sinking in a points crisis. Hoang Anh Gia Lai lost 0-4 to Nam Dinh and then 1-3 to Hai Phong, thus also ending up empty-handed after two matches with seven goals conceded. Notably, the media described these as familiar problems for Hoang Anh Gia Lai in the early stages of the season, implying that the mountain town club's difficulties are recurring and rooted in management and squad preparation rather than a mere slip-up. The third case is Dong Nai, a newly promoted team that just won promotion. This club has lost all three matches, failed to score a single goal, and conceded six times. This is a classic sign of a relegation candidate: neither an attack strong enough to create breakthroughs nor a defense solid enough to hold on to points. However, the pressure on the Dong Nai coach is assessed as moderate, as these results are somewhat within general predictions for a promoted team facing the gap in quality between the two divisions. It is worth noting that Dong Nai recruited experienced names such as Nguyen Cong Phuong and Luong Xuan Truong, former national team players from Vietnam's golden generation. A promoted team betting on stars past their peak shows a survival strategy based on experience rather than youth development. This is a familiar approach for many newly promoted V-League clubs, but it also carries financial risks if results do not improve, as the wage bill for former internationals is far from small. On the other side, some clubs are making the most of the difficulties of the crisis group to accumulate points. Nam Dinh and Cong An Ha Noi have emerged as early contenders, while Song Lam Nghe An and Hai Phong also have convincing wins to assert their positions. Song Lam Nghe An beat Hanoi FC 4-1 right at Hang Day, while Hai Phong defeated Hoang Anh Gia Lai 3-1. These results show that a clear divide is forming very early. Looking at the overall picture, there is an astonishing void at the top group while Hanoi FC is sinking deep. For many seasons, the capital club has been the standard of stability and a default title contender. Their start with 0 points, along with seven goals conceded, creates a power vacuum that other clubs are quickly filling. This is a golden opportunity for teams like Nam Dinh, Cong An Ha Noi, Song Lam Nghe An, or Hai Phong to accumulate advantages in the next three to five rounds. On the tactical side, analysts note that the seven goals conceded by Hanoi FC and Hoang Anh Gia Lai in two matches reflect structural problems in the defense and the midfield's covering ability. When a team repeatedly concedes from the same type of error, the cause usually lies in the tactical system rather than individual form. However, it must be emphasized that current sources only provide scorelines without in-depth data such as expected goals or pressure metrics, so any tactical conclusion is speculative. For Dong Nai, the problem is the opposite dilemma. Three matches without a goal show that chance creation and quality in the final third are fatal weaknesses. A team that cannot score can hardly dream of survival, regardless of how well the defense plays. Possessing former internationals like Cong Phuong and Xuan Truong makes this problem even more paradoxical, as experience should create a difference at decisive moments. Public pressure is also an important variable. For Hanoi FC, most attention is focused on coach Harry Kewell's position. The media are questioning his ability to revive the team, and the third round is described as a safety milestone for the hot seat. If Hanoi FC continues to lose, it is entirely possible that the club's leadership will make a change on the bench. For a club that has won six titles, sacking a coach early also means a significant contract compensation cost. The case of Hoang Anh Gia Lai shows pressure at a medium to high level. The mountain town club has a large fan base and high expectations, but early-season problems seem to have become a chronic disease. The phrase "familiar early-season problems" suggests that the media view this as a systemic failure in preparation and management, not merely a slow start that can self-correct. However, a cautious view of the severity of the crisis is needed. Two rounds is too small a sample to draw long-term conclusions. Early-season V-League tables are notoriously volatile, and a win in the third round can immediately dispel the pessimistic atmosphere. Conversely, another defeat will push the clubs into an increasingly heavy psychological spiral. One notable limitation of current sources is that they do not mention the specific opponents of each team in the third round. This is very important, as a crisis-hit team facing a title contender will have completely different pressure than facing a fellow struggler. Without this information, the claim that the third round decides everything would be an exaggeration of a single match's impact. Additionally, there is a contradiction in the description of Dong Nai, as one source says the club has no points after two rounds, while another says they lost three consecutive matches. This discrepancy could stem from counting a cup match or simply an editing error. Whatever the cause, verifying the standings before drawing conclusions about the depth of Dong Nai's crisis is necessary. Overall, this is a pure results-crisis report, containing no financial, transfer, or governance analysis. Its true information value lies in recording three clubs sitting on 0 points, one of which is a six-time champion. The "coaches under pressure" element is largely editorial opinion based on a very small sample, so readers need to clearly distinguish between facts and inference. The biggest and most urgent risk lies in coach Harry Kewell's position at Hanoi FC, stemming from the combination of the brand expectations of a big club and actual results. The highest structural risk belongs to Dong Nai, as a promoted team with no goal source has the least room for recovery. The Hoang Anh Gia Lai case is in the middle, with concerns about a pattern of slow starts that has become a norm. Finally, it must be emphasized that all three clubs are at the beginning of a long journey. The V-League always witnesses spectacular comebacks and unexpected collapses. What matters now is to monitor the third round results, see whether club leaderships take concrete action, and whether the crisis-hit teams can find their first goal or point to turn the situation around.