Binh Phuoc emerged victorious with a narrow 1-0 win over Hue in Round 5 of the V-League 2024-2025, thanks to a moment of brilliance from striker Nguyen Cong Phuong. The match, played at the Tu Do Stadium in Hue on November 20, saw a packed crowd – a rare sight in recent years – primarily due to the presence of several high-profile players in the Binh Phuoc squad, including goalkeeper Bui Tan Truong, defenders Sam Ngoc Duc, Huynh Tan Sinh, and Nguyen Thanh Binh, and notably, Cong Phuong, the former HAGL striker.
Despite the excitement surrounding the players, the match itself was far from thrilling. Binh Phuoc struggled with their cohesion, failing to create much attacking threat throughout the first half. The visitors, despite the presence of big names, failed to register a single shot on target in the opening 45 minutes.
In contrast, Hue, with an average age under 21, demonstrated plenty of youthful energy. While lacking experience, their defense held firm, preventing most of Binh Phuoc’s individual skills and team coordination. The home team also launched several dangerous counter-attacks but could not break down Tan Truong in the Binh Phuoc goal.
The second half continued in a similar fashion, with Hue remaining solid defensively and posing counter-attacking threats. In the 64th minute, Hue’s Hoang Quan had a long-range shot that forced Tan Truong to make an impressive save.
However, after failing to capitalize on several chances, Hue was punished in the 74th minute. From a relatively harmless long ball, 19-year-old defender Vu Quoc Anh misjudged his header, and the ball fell to Cong Phuong. The striker, using his pace, surged forward and finished expertly with a well-placed shot into the bottom corner of the net. It was the only shot on target from Binh Phuoc in the entire match, and it proved enough to secure the win.
Following the goal, Cong Phuong celebrated in his usual style, pumping his fist in triumph. This was his second consecutive goal and his fourth goal in the V-League for Binh Phuoc. His contribution was vital in keeping Binh Phuoc in second place, with four wins and one draw, just two points behind Ninh Binh.
However, despite his strong performances, Cong Phuong’s current form was not sufficient to earn a recall to the Vietnam national team for the upcoming AFF Cup (ASEAN Cup 2024). After the match, he remarked, “The national team squad has already been selected, and the best players have been chosen by the coach. That’s a good thing for the team. I hope Vietnam will have a successful ASEAN Cup ahead.”
With this victory, Binh Phuoc remains in the hunt for the top spot in the league, and Cong Phuong continues to show that he still has much to offer at the domestic level.
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