EXPLOSIVE FORM
Four months ago, when the Vietnam U23 team concluded their 2026 U23 Asian Championship journey with a historic bronze medal, it was also the moment Dinh Bac returned to the harsh reality. The striker, born in 2004, won the top scorer award at the U23 Asian Championship but has consistently failed to score in the domestic league. Adding to the irony, in one international match, Dinh Bac scored for Hanoi Police FC, but the goal was later disallowed by the AFC due to a technical foul. Similarly, in the V-League, the Hanoi Police FC forward's goal was disallowed by the referee or VAR for offside or a teammate foul.
Dinh Bac made a strong impression in the V-League.
PHOTO: MINH TU
However, CAHN Club is not impatient. Coach Polking, who has honed Dinh Bac's skills from his early days as a "raw talent" transferred from Quang Nam to his level at the U.23 Asian Championships, understands that for a player possessing all three strengths (physical strength, intelligence, and determination), shining brightly is only a matter of time.
What coach Polking had been waiting for finally arrived, as Dinh Bac became the most explosive striker in the V-League over the past two months. His goal drought was broken with a brace against Da Nang FC (round 17), followed by an incredibly impressive scoring streak. Dinh Bac scored a hat-trick to help CAHN FC win 4-2 against SLNA, and also scored against Ho Chi Minh City Police FC, PVF-CAND, and Hai Phong. In six matches, he scored eight goals; whether playing at home or away, against strong or weak teams, against burly or experienced defenders, Dinh Bac scored in every game.
Coach Polking's faith in Dinh Bac was so great that, in the match against Hai Phong (round 21), he benched Leo Artur, Rogerio Alves, and Alan Sebastiao to give the 22-year-old striker a chance to prove himself. Dinh Bac responded with a beautiful one-two combination with Quang Hai, then broke through to beat national team player Dinh Trieu with a gentle shot.
DIFFERENCE IN THINKING
The goal against Hai Phong also exemplifies the transformation in Dinh Bac's playing style. When he first joined CAHN Club (at the beginning of the 2024-2025 season), Dinh Bac pursued a style of dribbling to create breakthroughs and disrupt opponents on the left wing. The striker from Nghe An wanted to use his speed and technique to make a difference. But CAHN Club is a "galaxy" of talented players like Leo Artur, Alan Sebastiao, Van Duc, Quang Hai, and a team-oriented philosophy. The team plays short passes, quick combinations, and minimalist tactics, so Dinh Bac had to restrain his ego and hold back his desire to show off.
Dinh Bac once struggled to score just one goal in 15 V-League matches. However, with the resilience to overcome early career setbacks and the rare all-around attacking talent that Vietnamese football has ever produced, the difficulties were merely steps to climb to stardom. Today's Dinh Bac plays more simply. He makes runs to find space, passes quickly, shoots cleanly, without unnecessary movements. Dinh Bac is no longer just the brightest star in the team, but a harmonious note in the collective symphony. Dinh Bac's turning point was the glory he achieved with the Vietnam U22 and U23 teams. Having overcome obstacles, Dinh Bac understands what needs to be done to maintain success. The way he answers recent press interviews has also pleased the audience. He is just humble enough but still exudes the pride of a young man, never denying his own brilliance but also knowing how to integrate himself into the team's overall flow. No isolation, no selfishness, no self-importance!
With 8 goals, Dinh Bac is fiercely competing with Hoang Hen (9 goals) for the top domestic scorer title. If he maintains his scoring rate, Dinh Bac could finish the season with 12-14 goals with 5 matches remaining, thereby winning the top domestic scorer title and joining the group of top scorers in the league.
Thanhnien.vn
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/dinh-bac-nay-da-khac-18526050422500491.htm
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