Unbelievable miss, Tiến Linh sinks deeper into a crisis period

Tiến Linh continues to disappoint by extending his streak of 12 matches without scoring, missing clear opportunities and facing the risk of losing his position both at his club and the Vietnamese national team.

Forward Nguyễn Tiến Linh is experiencing an alarming performance phase as he continues to "fail to ignite" in the National Cup quarter-final match between CA TP.HCM and Trường Tươi Đồng Nai. Although his team secured a minimal 1-0 victory, the performance of the striker born in 1997 left more concerns than reassurance.

In this match, Tiến Linh still demonstrated active movement and the ability to connect play with teammates. However, his biggest weakness at this moment lies in the finishing aspect, which once built the reputation of this forward. Notably, he voluntarily gave up the penalty kick opportunity to his younger teammate Ngô Đăng Khoa, who subsequently executed successfully and scored the only goal of the match. While this action reflects team spirit, it also partly reveals Tiến Linh's lack of confidence at the current moment.

His clearest opportunity came from a favorable through pass by Khoa Ngô, when Tiến Linh faced the opposing goalkeeper directly. However, in the decisive moment, the finishing shot lacked accuracy, letting the chance slip away regrettably. This is not the first time this forward has missed such "clear-cut" situations recently.

Across all domestic competitions, Tiến Linh's streak of matches without scoring has extended to 12—a alarming statistic for a key striker. If considered more broadly from V.League to the national team previously, this number had stopped at 11 matches and is now further extended. Continuously missing opportunities not only affects personal achievements but also places significant pressure on the player's competitive psychology.

The declining performance also costs Tiến Linh by resulting in his absence from the latest call-up list by coach Kim Sang-sik. In the context where the national team's attack needs competition and renewal, the continuous shining of a young forward like Khoa Ngô further seriously threatens Tiến Linh's position. If he does not quickly improve his finishing ability and regain confidence, Tiến Linh entirely risks losing his role as the primary center-forward both at club level and the national team.