Tien Linh's pressure

Tien Linh has been overtaken in the V.League top scorer race - Photo: Becamex Binh Duong FC .

The V.League 2024/25 season is drawing to a close, with Nam Dinh nearing their second consecutive championship title. Simultaneously, the race for the top scorer title is heating up with the rise of several strikers. However, Nguyen Tien Linh is at a disadvantage in this race.

Binh Duong's main striker has not only been overtaken in the scoring charts, but has also lost form at a crucial stage of the season.

After round 23, Tien Linh and Ribamar (Thanh Hoa) temporarily shared the top spot in the scoring list with 11 goals each. However, the situation changed after the early matches of round 24. Lucao, the striker from Hai Phong, shone with a brace against The Cong Viettel to take the lead with 12 goals. At the same time, Pedro Henrique of the military team also scored another goal, moving level with Tien Linh.

While his rivals accelerated their pace, Tien Linh remained silent in Binh Duong's 2-0 victory over Ho Chi Minh City. He has missed numerous clear-cut opportunities in recent rounds, exhibiting poor ball control and indecisive finishing.

Tien Linh's goal drought not only affects his individual performance in the V.League but also puts immense pressure on him within the Vietnamese national team. Under coach Kim Sang-sik, the team is aiming for a flexible playing style and prioritizing current form. This means that any player who cannot maintain consistency could lose their place.

Tien Linh needs a goal to relieve the pressure - Photo: Becamex Binh Duong FC .

For Tien Linh specifically, that risk is real. Cong Phuong has just returned and is currently the top scorer in the First Division. Tuan Hai remains a smart off-ball movement option with diverse finishing skills. The competition for a spot in the national team's attack has never been more intense.

Tien Linh was once a hero in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers with 8 goals, making a significant contribution to Vietnam's historic journey to the final qualifying round. He is also one of the few domestic strikers who have maintained high performance over many seasons. But football is a harsh game, where past glory cannot guarantee a place in the present.

The upcoming match against Malaysia in the 2026 Asian Cup qualifiers is an opportunity and could also be a turning point for Tien Linh personally. An impressive performance will not only help him regain the trust of the coaching staff but also relieve the pressure that has been weighing on him for some time.

From the time of coach Park Hang-seo to coach Kim Sang-sik, the Vietnamese national team has always needed a striker who can hold up the ball, create pressure, and score consistently. If Tien Linh fails to do that, he will be the one to put himself out of the game.

No one doubts Tien Linh's class and experience. But the current situation demands more than that – decisiveness, sharpness, and the resilience to overcome crises. From a striker who has scored against UAE, China, and Indonesia, Tien Linh is now facing the challenge of proving that he remains the number one striker for the Vietnamese national team.

Of course, that needs to be proven in the match against Malaysia, a game where not only the team but also he himself desperately needs a goal.

Source: https://znews.vn/ap-luc-cua-tien-linh-post1555632.html