Will Cong Phuong help Binh Phuoc Club make history? - Photo: NK
Truong Tuoi Binh Phuoc Club (Binh Phuoc) won the runner-up position in the 2024-2025 First Division. Meanwhile, SHB Da Nang (Da Nang) ranked 13th out of 14 teams in the 2024-2025 V-League.
History is not on the side of the first division team
In the history of 12 play-off matches, the First Division team has only won 4 times against a V-League team to secure promotion. That was Hanoi ACB beating Hue 1-0 in 2002. Hue beating Hai Phong 4-3 in a penalty shootout (1-1 draw) in 2006. Dong Thap beating Binh Dinh 1-0 in 2008. Can Tho beating An Giang 3-0 in 2014.
But in the 4 play-off matches over the past 10 years, no first-class team has been able to defeat a V-League team. Specifically, Viettel lost 0-1 to Long An in 2016. Pho Hien lost 0-1 to Thanh Hoa in 2019. Hanoi B lost 3-5 to Nam Dinh in a penalty shootout after a 0-0 draw in 2018. And most recently, PVF-CAND lost 2-3 to Hong Linh Ha Tinh in the play-off match last season.
The difference in skill level and playing experience is the biggest difference between the V-League and the First Division. Over the past 10 years, the gap between the two leagues has become even bigger as the V-League has had foreign players while the First Division has not since 2015.
But in this year's play-off, Binh Phuoc Club can break the "curse" of losing more than winning of first-class clubs when possessing a squad of quality players with experience playing in V-League not inferior to Da Nang Club such as goalkeeper Tan Truong, Cong Phuong, Phi Son, Huynh Tan Sinh, Sam Ngoc Duc, Ho Sy Giap, Tong Anh Ti, Le Thanh Binh, Ho Tuan Tai...
Look to Cong Phuong
Although there are not many prominent names, Da Nang Club is outstanding in its playing style thanks to its stable framework. Their defense is quite solid with central defenders who have played for the Vietnam U23 team such as Lieu Quang Vinh, Luong Duy Cuong, Duc Anh and Doan Anh Viet.
Da Nang's attack is also formidable with Phan Van Long (6 goals in V-League 2024-2025), Minh Quang (3 goals), Dinh Duy (2 goals), Ha Minh Tuan (1 goal). Leading Da Nang Club is Coach Le Duc Tuan - who has much more experience than Coach Huynh Quoc Anh of Binh Phuoc Club.
Meanwhile, Binh Phuoc FC's attack line stands out with Luu Tu Nhan (9 goals in the First Division), Cong Phuong (7 goals), Le Thanh Binh (3 goals) and Ho Tuan Tai (2 goals). Among them, Cong Phuong is expected to help Binh Phuoc FC realize its dream of promotion. Cong Phuong's ability to create, take dangerous free kicks and finish is something that Da Nang's defense must be wary of.
Thong Nhat Stadium is where Ho Chi Minh City fans still have special affection for him when he played for U19 Vietnam as well as Ho Chi Minh City Club in V-League 2020. Now Cong Phuong has a new mission when returning to Thong Nhat Stadium: bringing Binh Phuoc Club to play in V-League.
Binh Phuoc fans surrounded Cong Phuong to ask for autographs and take photos after the final match with Long An Club in the 2024-2025 First Division. The play-off match is an opportunity for Cong Phuong to respond to that trust in the fans, writing a new chapter for Binh Phuoc football.
The motivation for Cong Phuong and his teammates is even greater when the leaders of Binh Phuoc Club offer a bonus of up to 10 billion VND if they win a ticket to V-League 2025-2026.
This is a record bonus, twice as high as the VND5 billion bonus of Nam Dinh Club when winning the V-League 2024-2025.
Song Lam Nghe An meets Hanoi Police in the National Cup final
On the evening of June 26, the two names that won the right to enter the final of the 2024-2025 National Cup were determined. Song Lam Nghe An Club defeated B.Binh Duong 3-2 at Vinh Stadium, while Cong An Ha Noi (CAHN) defeated The Cong - Viettel 3-1 at Hang Day Stadium.
Striker Michael Olaha not only shined with a double but also assisted Ho Van Cuong to score a goal. In particular, a mistake by defender Que Ngoc Hai in the last minute helped Olaha finish the match on a penalty kick. Meanwhile, coach Velizar Popov's fate with 2 National Cup championships was stopped after Hugo, Quang Hai and Alan scored for CAHN Club in the first half. Coach Polking has the opportunity to find his first title in the final match on June 29 at Vinh Stadium.
NGUYEN KHOI - QUANG THINH
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/truong-tuoi-binh-phuoc-pha-vo-loi-nguyen-20250627104637362.htm
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