Nam Định scored a historic goal against a Japanese club

Despite the 1-3 defeat to Gamba Osaka in the 2025/26 AFC Cup 2, Nam Định still marked a historic milestone by netting their first goal against a Japanese club.

On the afternoon of October 22 (Vietnam time), despite suffering a 1-3 loss to Gamba Osaka in the third match of Group F in the 2025/26 AFC Cup 2, Nam Định still achieved a memorable milestone by scoring for the first time ever against a Japanese team in a continental competition.

Previously, Vietnamese clubs often struggled and suffered heavy defeats when facing J.League teams. Last season, Nam Định lost twice to Sanfrecce Hiroshima in the AFC Champions League Round of 16, with scores of 0-3 and 0-4. Going further back to 2008, the Nam Định team was heavily defeated 0-4 and 0-6 by Kashima Antlers in the AFC Champions League (now ACL Elite).

Therefore, the goal scored by English striker Kyle Hudlin against Gamba Osaka in the 93rd minute holds historic significance; it was not only a consolation goal but also Nam Định’s first-ever goal against a Japanese club.

Returning to the match details, Gamba Osaka demonstrated superior quality from the opening minutes. The home team controlled 67% of possession, took 28 shots, and scored 3 goals by Rin Mito (17’), Issam Jebali (52’), and an own goal in the 89th minute.

Meanwhile, despite fielding a lineup with 8 foreign players, Nam Định struggled to organize attacks and resist pressure. Hudlin’s only goal came from a personal effort with a precise angled shot that beat the Gamba Osaka goalkeeper in the 3rd minute of stoppage time.

Statistics show Gamba Osaka created 7 clear chances, completed over 628 passes with 89% accuracy, while Nam Định managed only 76%. The difference in speed, pressing escape ability, and team cohesion was clearly noticeable.

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