Before the final round, the rankings suggested that the Night Wolf V-League would remain thrilling with three teams, LPBank HAGL, SLNA, and Ha Tinh, in precarious positions. However, the reality was different.

The run for the play-off ticket primarily involved Song Lam Nghe An FC (SLNA) and their neighbor Ha Tinh FC. Few believed that Hoang Anh Gia Lai FC (HAGL) would lose to Hai Phong in their match in Pleiku, and indeed, HAGL came from behind to keep Hai Phong in the league at home. SLNA, the weakest team, unexpectedly played exceptionally well, defeating The Cong Viettel, a team previously unbeaten in nine consecutive matches, pushing Ha Tinh down to play the play-off match with PVF-CAND FC.

Looking back at the entire 2023/2024 season, the V-League did not produce many memorable moments, even with the emergence of a new champion, Nam Dinh FC. The relegation and play-off tickets did not create much excitement either. Nam Dinh's victory was somewhat inevitable as their opponents, like defending champions CAHN, The Cong Viettel, and former champions Ha Noi FC, struggled with their own issues.

Similarly, the relegation battle was predictable. Khanh Hoa was almost destined for relegation due to insufficient funding and support, resulting in their inevitable drop from the league.

The lack of surprises meant that the season’s developments did not create many highlights. The matches lacked appeal due to the low competition for rankings and positions.

Despite the lack of overall excitement, the Night Wolf V-League 2023/2024 had some noteworthy moments. Binh Dinh’s runner-up position and Ho Chi Minh City Club's surprising fourth-place finish, despite being considered a relegation candidate, were interesting surprises. Rafaelson’s record for scoring goals in a season and Van Quyet’s impressive performance as the oldest player in the V-League also deserve mention.

However, these highlights were not enough to make the Night Wolf V-League 2023/2024 an attractive season. Persistent issues with refereeing and player ethics, which have caused controversy in past seasons, remained unresolved and continued to plague the league.

The Night Wolf V-League 2023/2024 season, while lacking in overall excitement and dramatic developments, had its share of interesting outcomes and performances. Yet, the league needs to address ongoing issues and improve competitiveness to create a more engaging and memorable experience for fans in future seasons.

Duy Nguyen