Cong Phuong couldn't save Binh Phuoc Club.

On the Pleiku pitch, Cong Phuong experienced an emotional match. He didn't celebrate when he scored against Phan Dinh Vu Hai, equalizing the score at 1-1 for Binh Phuoc FC. Previously, HAGL had opened the scoring with a tap-in inside the penalty area by Dung Quang Nho. In the penalty shootout, the former HAGL striker took the first penalty and scored against his former team. Binh Phuoc FC also had an advantage when Chau Ngoc Quang missed his penalty shortly after. But on a day when the 2024 AFF Cup champion Tran Trung Kien played exceptionally well, saving two penalties, coach Nguyen Anh Duc's team had to accept ending their National Cup journey in the round of 16.

Binh Phuoc Club is overly reliant on Cong Phuong.

Binh Phuoc FC will not be happy with the result, but the loss to HAGL will also provide the team with many lessons. This season, Cong Phuong has scored 6 goals and provided 1 assist, making a significant contribution to helping Binh Phuoc FC keep pace with Ninh Binh in the First Division standings. With a goal contribution rate of nearly 80%, Cong Phuong remains an extremely important player, deserving to be a pillar of support, both professionally and mentally, for the Binh Phuoc FC players.

HAGL advances

However, Binh Phuoc FC is overly reliant on Cong Phuong, meaning that when their brightest star is neutralized, the team lacks alternative attacking options. This was clearly demonstrated in the match against HAGL. Against a fiercely disciplined defense, featuring young and strong center-backs like Pham Ly Duc and Dung Quang Nho, Cong Phuong couldn't make much of an impact. His goal only came after goalkeeper Vu Hai made a mistake. The situation of Binh Phuoc FC being ineffective when Cong Phuong is ineffective has occurred many times this season.

The problem of relying too heavily on Cong Phuong needs to be solved by coach Anh Duc soon. Otherwise, in the race for promotion to the V-League next season, they could very well fall behind. This is because their direct competitor, Ninh Binh FC, has many attacking players. Besides Hoang Duc, coach Nguyen Viet Thang also has Mach Ngoc Ha, Nguyen Quoc Viet, Dinh Thanh Binh… who are all in good form.

The quality of Binh Phuoc FC's squad is not significantly inferior to Ninh Binh FC's. In attack, they still have many talented players such as Ho Sy Giap, Ho Tuan Tai, Le Thanh Binh, and Nguyen Kien Quyet. These are all players with experience playing in the V-League. Notably, Thanh Binh is a very successful striker in the First Division, having helped Binh Dinh and Khanh Hoa FC return to the V-League. However, up to this point, coach Anh Duc has yet to select the most effective lineup to improve Binh Phuoc FC's attacking capabilities. Apart from Cong Phuong, the aforementioned players have almost yet to make an impact.

A team competing for the championship needs a star player who can consistently shine like Cong Phuong. However, that's only a necessary condition; the sufficient condition is having more players who can replace that star player to create variety and make it difficult for opponents to predict their tactics. And Binh Phuoc Club currently lacks this sufficient condition.

Results as of January 12th

Ba Ria-Vung Tau 1-1 Ninh Binh (rotating: 2-4)

HAGL 1-1 Binh Phuoc (penalty shootout: 4-3)

Hanoi FC 0-0 Dong Thap (penalty shootout: 3-4)

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/vong-16-doi-cup-quoc-gia-cong-phuong-khong-cuu-duoc-clb-binh-phuoc-18525011222370445.htm