Dinh Trong re-enacts his prime

Dinh Trong played impressively in the first leg of the final. Photo: CAHN FC .

CAHN had a 2-2 draw with Buriam United in the first leg of the final on the evening of May 14. In this match, central defender Tran Dinh Trong was named in the starting lineup by coach Mano Polking. He played in the center of the defense alongside the duo Hugo Gomes and Bui Hoang Viet Anh.

Buriram United brought to Hanoi almost the strongest squad. The Thai representative's attack line included Guilherme Bissoli, Lucas Crispim and Supachai Jaided, putting CAHN's defense under great pressure.

However, in this match, the player born in 1997 chose his position, read the situation and had many reasonable covers to help CAHN escape the storm many times. In the one-on-one disputes, especially with Bissoli or Supachai, two sharp strikers with good physique and technique of the opponent, Dinh Trong showed his inherent tenacity and courage. He did not hesitate to move up to put mid-range pressure, while still maintaining the ability to retreat at the right time to cover behind.

Against Buriram United, the image of a familiar "Western hunter" from Dinh Trong's peak was recreated. He not only repeatedly made the defending Thai League champions' attack "burn" in the disputes, but also continuously signaled to reorganize the defense system, showing the role of a silent leader in the CAHN defense. With Dinh Trong on the field, Bui Hoang Viet Anh played more confidently, and Hugo Gomes was also more secure in high-up situations.

After more than 3 years of struggling with injuries, this is one of the rare times Dinh Trong has recreated the image of his peak playing days. With persistent injuries, three surgeries, and almost no presence in the national team, many people thought that Dinh Trong's career had reached the brink of extinction.

However, with his tenacious minutes against Buriram United, the 1997-born central defender showed his return not only in physical condition, but also in mental strength. Although he no longer has the same speed and strength as before, experience, judgment and courage are still what make Dinh Trong valuable.

The Southeast Asian Cup championship is still ahead, with the return match in Thailand, Dinh Trong deserves more recognition. In the context of Vietnamese football lacking a central defender with the ability to organize and think intelligently, a healthy Dinh Trong can still be the solution to difficult problems in defense, not only for CAHN, but also at the national team level.

Source: https://znews.vn/dinh-trong-tai-hien-thoi-dinh-cao-post1553098.html