Hanoi, 17 May 2026 – Nguyen Dinh Bac missed the chance to extend his scoring streak to seven consecutive matches after Alan Sebastiao insisted on taking a late penalty during Hanoi Police FC’s 2-0 victory over Dong A Thanh Hoa in round 23 of V.League 1 – 2025/26.
The key moment came in the 84th minute at Hang Day Stadium when Nguyen Dinh Bac was caught by a dangerous challenge from Le Van Hung inside the penalty area. Referee Ngo Duy Lan only pointed to the spot two minutes later after reviewing the incident on VAR.
At first, it appeared Dinh Bac would take the penalty himself as he was holding the ball while standing inside the box. However, Alan Sebastiao eventually stepped forward and claimed the responsibility. Captain Nguyen Quang Hai and defender Bui Hoang Viet Anh both tried to persuade the Brazilian striker to let Dinh Bac take the kick, but Alan refused and even pushed Viet Anh away during the heated discussion.
“Quang Hai and Viet Anh wanted me to take the penalty. I wanted to shoot too, and Alan also wanted it,” Dinh Bac said after the match. “We argued a little, but that’s normal between men. The team’s success is the most important thing.”
In reality, Alan remains the first-choice penalty taker for Hanoi Police FC, while Dinh Bac only steps up when the Brazilian forward is unavailable.
Alan also had his own reasons for insisting on the spot-kick. The striker had gone 10 straight V.League matches without scoring, with his last league goal coming on February 24 in a 3-1 win against Thanh Hoa. Injuries and fitness problems then disrupted his form, forcing him to miss several matches while also limiting his playing time.
Meanwhile, Dinh Bac had entered the game in outstanding form, scoring 10 goals across his previous six V.League matches. He was also the player who earned the crucial penalty at a time when CAHN were still locked at 0-0 against Thanh Hoa.
Fortunately, the disagreement did not escalate further. Alan calmly converted the penalty with a powerful strike into the left corner, leaving goalkeeper Y Eli Nie with no chance and moving to 15 goals for the season to strengthen his position in the race for the Golden Boot. Moments later, Dinh Bac ran over to celebrate with his teammate, putting any tension behind them.
Alan’s goal paved the way for a 2-0 victory that officially crowned Hanoi Police FC as V.League 1 champions with three rounds still remaining. Coach Mano Polking’s side reached 60 points, 11 ahead of second-placed The Cong.
The title marked the first V.League championship of Dinh Bac’s career. The young forward has now completed a domestic trophy collection after previously winning the 2024/25 National Cup and the 2025 National Super Cup with CAHN.
“We were extremely determined this season after finishing third last year. This title is fully deserved,” Dinh Bac said. “Winning the league also gives us a chance to compete in the AFC Champions League Elite play-offs, and we will fight to reach the group stage.”
Despite failing to score, Dinh Bac remained one of the standout performers against Thanh Hoa. Playing under heavy rain at Hang Day Stadium, the 2004-born striker struck the post in the 75th minute before narrowly missing the target four minutes later. However, the penalty incident also left him injured, forcing him to leave the field late in the match.
“I felt a lot of pain after the challenge on my left ankle,” Dinh Bac revealed. “I wanted to continue until the end, but after trying to move for a few minutes, I couldn’t continue and had to ask to come off. I’ll need to go to the hospital for further checks to know the exact situation.”
VSN/RPT
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