The Giant in the Shadows

Quietly taking the top spot.

Viettel Sports Club won the 2020 season championship, consistently ranking among the top teams and always being highly regarded by their opponents. There were times when the team came close to winning the championship, or even became a "great spoiler" by directly impacting the title race through their head-to-head results.

Highlights of Da Nang FC 1-1 The Cong Viettel FC | Round 13 V-League 2024-2025

However, it was precisely at the moments when expectations were highest that the military team disappointed, and as a result, after four seasons, despite being highly rated, The Cong Viettel never truly became a serious contender in the championship race. Then, when most people had become accustomed to the saying "expectations often lead to disappointment," The Cong Viettel quietly closed in on the top spot, and by the end of the rescheduled matchday 11, Coach Duc Thang's team officially secured the unofficial title of first-half champions.

Nham Manh Dung and his teammates silently advanced.

It's worth noting that Viettel Sports Club's top spot wasn't achieved through crushing victories or a series of impressive results. Before defeating Hanoi Police FC at My Dinh Stadium on February 19th, Coach Duc Thang's team nearly lost to Da Nang at Tam Ky Stadium and only managed to secure one point thanks to a last-minute goal from Nham Manh Dung.

Watching how Viettel Sports Club plays, many people feel restless and uneasy, unsure when Tien Dung and his teammates will perform at 100%, or whether they will once again display a style of play that lulls both opponents and fans into a false sense of security. In reality, regardless of their style of play, Coach Duc Thang's team is proving effective by defeating formidable opponents like Nam Dinh, Hanoi, and CAHN clubs, and occupying the top spot after 13 rounds.

A quality squad combined with sound tactics.

Viettel Sports Club doesn't possess a "dream team" like Hanoi FC or Nam Dinh FC, nor does it have "legends" like Hanoi FC. In fact, this team will be without the reigning Golden Ball winner, Hoang Duc, for the 2024-2025 season. But in return, they have a well-rounded team, led by a charismatic yet soldier-like coach – Coach Duc Thang – a former Viettel Sports Club player.

Viettel Sports Club boasts a formidable squad of domestic players, including Tiến Dũng, Đức Chiến, Tiến Anh, Văn Khang, and Tuấn Tài, all of whom have proven their abilities at various levels of the national team and club. With Tiến Dũng as their leader, Viettel Sports Club's defense has shown remarkable effectiveness, conceding only 10 goals, matching Nam Định Club and just one goal more than Hồng Lĩnh Hà Tĩnh.

Viettel Sports Club currently has quality foreign players in its ranks.

Up front, coach Duc Thang has the services of a trio of Brazilian foreign players who bring inspiring and effective football. In the two recent victories against Hoang Anh Gia Lai and CAHN FC, the trio of Amarildo, Pedro Henrique, and Wesley Nata tormented the opposing defense with both coordinated plays and solo runs. It would be a mistake to talk about The Cong Viettel's attack without mentioning their domestic players, as every position is capable of scoring. From the defense with Tien Dung and Duc Chien, the midfield with Huu Thang, Van Khang, and Tuan Tai, to the domestic strikers like Manh Dung… all can find the net.

What's even more frightening about The Cong Viettel is their ability to choose the perfect moment to decide a match. Just when everyone thinks the former V-League champions are about to concede a goal, Coach Duc Thang's players do the opposite. They switch tactics quickly, bringing the ball close to the opponent's goal with just a few passes and some skillful dribbling, but without overdoing it, and almost certainly creating dangerous situations for the opponent's goal in those instances.

Quang Hai's head shake after the match on February 19th was very significant, as he and his teammates could have conceded more than two goals after the opponent's exemplary counter-attacks. If they continue to play like this, it's highly likely that The Cong Viettel Club will clinch the championship early. Their current problem is maintaining consistency, not dropping points unexpectedly against "weaker" opponents like Da Nang Club in round 13. The rematch against CAHN Club in round 14 of the V-League on February 23rd will be highly anticipated as the military team asserts its true strength.

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Source: https://thanhnien.vn/the-cong-viettel-ke-khong-lo-trong-bong-toi-185250221112319102.htm