In the fifth matchday of the second qualifying round for the World Cup 2026, held at My Dinh Stadium, the Vietnam national team secured a thrilling 3-2 victory over the Philippines. Striker Tien Linh was the standout performer, scoring twice to help Vietnam earn three crucial points.
Thanks to his stellar performance, Tien Linh was honored by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) as the Man of the Match. Moreover, the 1997-born forward was included in the AFC’s list of the top five players of the recent matchday.
Commenting on Tien Linh, the AFC wrote: “With only one victory in the first four matches, the Vietnam national team seemed to be out of the running for the second qualifying round of the World Cup 2026. However, under the guidance of coach Kim Sang Sik, they secured a dramatic 3-2 victory over the Philippines to keep their hopes alive in Group F.
Tien Linh shone brightly, contributing a double in Vietnam’s comeback. He equalized at 1-1 in the 65th minute and scored again to make it 2-1 in the 76th minute. This victory leaves Vietnam just one point behind Indonesia heading into the final matchday.
Tien Linh had previously impressed by scoring eight goals in the World Cup 2022 qualifiers. He also netted six goals to help Vietnam reach the AFF Cup 2022 final.”
Alongside Tien Linh, four other players were honored by the AFC: Son Heung Min (South Korea), Husniddin Aliqulov (Uzbekistan), Koki Ogawa (Japan), and Abdulrahman Al Mushaifri (Oman).
Currently, Tien Linh and his teammates are in Iraq, preparing for the final match of the second qualifying round of the World Cup 2026 against the home team. To secure a spot in the next round, Vietnam needs to win against Iraq and hope that Indonesia stumbles against the Philippines. Tien Linh is expected to continue his outstanding form to help Vietnam create a surprise against Iraq.
Tien Linh’s recognition by the AFC, alongside top players in Asia, is a well-deserved acknowledgment of his efforts and talent. This also serves as a significant motivation for him and the Vietnam national team to strive for higher goals in their World Cup 2026 qualifying journey. The Vietnamese forward’s impressive track record and recent performance suggest that he could be a key player in helping Vietnam overcome their tough opponents and progress further in the tournament.
As the team gears up for their crucial match against Iraq, the focus remains on maintaining the momentum and capitalizing on the positive results from the previous games. The upcoming match promises to be a challenging yet defining moment for Vietnam, as they aim to secure their place in the next round of the World Cup qualifiers.
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