Cong Phuong scored a crucial goal against Hoang Anh Gia Lai in the early second half of their National Cup match after capitalizing on a poor clearance from goalkeeper Phan Dinh Vu Hai. Ho Tuan Tai’s pressing forced the mistake, giving Phuong an opportunity to strike from just outside the penalty area.
This marked Cong Phuong’s second goal of the National Cup campaign. He previously secured a 1-0 win for Binh Phuoc against Ho Chi Minh Youth FC in the first round. With six goals in seven appearances this season, including four in the First Division, Phuong continues to demonstrate his value for Binh Phuoc.
Phuong, a product of the first class of the Hoang Anh Gia Lai Arsenal JMG Academy, rose to prominence alongside Nguyen Van Toan, Nguyen Tuan Anh, and Luong Xuan Truong, making his V-League debut in 2015. After a stint in Japan with Yokohama FC in 2022, he returned to Vietnam to join Binh Phuoc in mid-2024.
Returning to Pleiku Stadium today with a new hairstyle, Cong Phuong faced tight marking, limiting his scoring opportunities. Nonetheless, Binh Phuoc had two early chances, but Nguyen Thanh Dat and Le Thanh Binh squandered them. Hoang Anh Gia Lai opened the scoring unexpectedly in the 21st minute when Tran Minh Vuong’s free-kick from the left deflected off a defender, reaching Dung Quang Nho at the far post. Nho’s close-range strike left goalkeeper Bui Tan Truong with no chance despite a fingertip touch. The home side failed to build on their lead, and Phuong almost equalized in the 42nd minute with a precise through ball to Thanh Dat, who failed to find a teammate in the box.
In the second half, Hoang Anh Gia Lai’s Nguyen Thanh Nhan unleashed a 24-meter shot towards the bottom left corner, only for Tan Truong to pull off a diving save. Hoang Anh Gia Lai missed further chances, including headers from Minh Vuong and Van Trieu. Eventually, Vu Hai’s critical error allowed Cong Phuong to equalize.
With no clear-cut chances afterward, the match ended 1-1 after regulation, forcing a penalty shootout. Hoang Anh Gia Lai brought on Trần Trung Kien, their 1.91-meter-tall goalkeeper who recently helped Vietnam win the ASEAN Cup 2024. Despite an early setback when Chau Ngoc Quang missed the first penalty, Trung Kien delivered two decisive saves. He denied Huynh Tan Sinh in the third round and Ho Tuan Tai in the fifth, both aiming for the left corner.
Trung Kien’s heroics secured Hoang Anh Gia Lai’s 4-3 shootout victory, booking their spot in the National Cup quarterfinals.
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