Tiến Linh's 'lack of luck' in V-League

On a day when the top striker of Ho Chi Minh City Police extended his streak of not scoring, the away team still secured a victory thanks to the fortune of overseas Vietnamese midfielder Khoa Ngô. Goalkeeper Trung Kiên couldn't help feeling disappointed as he remained solid but couldn't save HAGL from defeat.

The loss in round 15 of V-League 2025/26 on March 7th byHAGLat Pleiku Stadium against Ho Chi Minh City Police was not merely a defeat in terms of score.

It also clearly reflected the issues that the Mountain City team is facing during the sensitive phase of the V-League 2025/26 season.

On an afternoon when the young goalkeeperTrung Kiênplayed with great effort with a series of excellent saves, that still wasn't enough to save HAGL from another slip down the rankings.

It can be said that Trung Kiên was one of the rare bright spots for the Pleiku home team. In the first half, the goalkeeper from Vietnam's U23 squad denied at least three clear chances for the away team.

From blocking the close-range header by Nguyễn Tiến Linhto the reflex save against a dangerous angled shot, Trung Kiên did everything possible to keep hope alive for his team.

However, football is always a collective story. When the defense line was continuously breached on both flanks and the forward line was stuck in creating breakthroughs, the effort of an individual, however outstanding, was difficult to turn the tide.

HAGL's conceded goal came at the end of the first half as an inevitable consequence. Peter Makrillos' cross went through a series of white-shirted defenders, creating an opportunity for Khoa Ngô to rush down and tap in close to the goal.

In that situation, Trung Kiên was completely helpless due to the defensive error. That moment showed that HAGL's defensive system was "ripped apart," and their goalkeeper, despite playing well, couldn't perform miracles.

This match also marked the first time coach Lê Quang Trãi officially took charge of leading the Mountain City team in a context of many changes. When technical director Vũ Tiến Thành left HAGL to work in Ninh Bình, the team almost lost an important pillar both professionally and spiritually.

The absence of the familiar mentor seemed to cause coach Quang Trãi considerable difficulty in adjusting the playing style. HAGL's ball possession wasn't bad, even creating decent pressure at times early in the match, but the sharpness in the final phase was almost nonexistent.

Opportunities for Thanh Nhân or set-piece situations couldn't be converted into goals. The Pleiku home team thus fell into a state of prolonged stagnation throughout the match. This was HAGL's second defeat in the last four rounds, a statistic enough to worry the Mountain City team's fans.

On the other side of the battle line, Ho Chi Minh City Police played well at the end of the first half, and luck spoke up at the right time. Coach Lê Huỳnh Đức and his students found the solution to their difficult streak after two consecutive recent defeats. Even though the main striker Tiến Linh continued to "remain silent" for the 11th consecutive match from club to national team, Ho Chi Minh City Police Club still had its own "hero."

Overseas Vietnamese midfielder Khoa Ngô continued to prove his value by scoring his second goal since joining the team. After only four matches, he has become a notable element in the playing style orchestrated by coach Lê Huỳnh Đức.

This victory not only helped Ho Chi Minh City Police end their previous two-match losing streak but also temporarily placed coach Huỳnh Đức and his team into the Top 4 with 23 points. Meanwhile, HAGL remains stuck at 11th place with 14 points after round 15, a very dangerous position.

For Mr. Đức's team, the relegation battle is clearly becoming more tense than ever. Trung Kiên can excel in the goal frame, but if HAGL doesn't soon improve tactical cohesion and chance utilization, such individual efforts will continue to be meaningless. And as the season enters its decisive phase, each defeat like this makes the Mountain City team's path more rugged.