Nguyễn Đình Bắc: From the "40th-minute shock" to a brace of maturity

There was a moment at the 2026 ASEAN Cup when Nguyễn Đình Bắc seemed to be gradually sidelined from the Vietnam national team's key plans. However, after only two games, the 2004-born forward gave the most persuasive answer possible: through goals.

From Mỹ Đình to Mỹ Đình

On the evening of August 7 at Mỹ Đình Stadium, Đình Bắc scored a brace to help Vietnam defeat Cambodia 3-1, thereby closing the 2026 ASEAN Cup group stage with the top spot in Group A. Those two goals were not just significant for the scoreline. They acted like an exclamation mark on Đình Bắc's turbulent journey over the past few days.

Just a week earlier, also at Mỹ Đình, Đình Bắc experienced one of the most difficult moments since the start of the tournament.

In the match where Vietnam drew 0-0 with Singapore on July 31, he was given a starting opportunity by coach Kim Sang-sik but had to leave the field at the end of the first half, in the 40th minute. The South Korean coach was dissatisfied with his student's performance, especially as Đình Bắc was somewhat individualistic and did not adhere well to tactical requirements.

That was an unpleasant signal for a young player. After an explosive performance in the opening match, Đình Bắc went from being one of the most anticipated names to a player who had to make way when the match was not even through the first half.

But the important thing is that he did not turn that disappointment into an endpoint. The interesting part lies in Coach Kim Sang-sik's decision immediately afterward.

Against Indonesia, considered Vietnam's biggest challenge in the group stage, Đình Bắc was still placed in the starting lineup. That decision showed that Coach Kim did not "abandon" his student after a subpar performance. He gave the young striker a chance to correct his mistakes.

While many key players like Xuân Son, Hoàng Hên, and Quang Hải were benched, Đình Bắc continued to appear in the starting eleven.

Đình Bắc did not have a perfect match on Indonesian soil. He missed several opportunities, including a one-on-one with the goalkeeper in the 79th minute. But his speed, movement, and bursts still created significant pressure on the home side's defense.

More importantly, Vietnam won 3-0 against Indonesia and regained control of their destiny in the race for a semifinal spot. Đình Bắc might not have been the most outstanding player of the match, but he maintained his place in Coach Kim's plans.

And then came Cambodia.

The brace of maturity

Against a Cambodia that actively defended with numbers, Vietnam faced considerable difficulty in finding space. But precisely in that kind of match, Đình Bắc stepped up.

In the 18th minute, after a pressing situation that helped Vietnam win the ball in midfield, Đình Bắc received it and executed a highly confident solo run. He dribbled past the Cambodian defense before unleashing a diagonal shot, opening the scoring for the home team.

That goal showcased Đình Bắc's special qualities: speed, ability to handle the ball in tight spaces, and confidence when facing the opponent's defense.

But it was the second goal that truly completed the story.

After Cambodia equalized 1-1 in the 71st minute, Vietnam needed a moment of difference to regain the lead. In the 89th minute, Đình Bắc beat the offside trap, broke through to face goalkeeper Koy Salim, and then executed a gentle lob over the opponent's head, sealing a 3-1 victory.

From a player substituted off in the first half for not meeting tactical requirements, Đình Bắc became the match-winner in the final group stage fixture.

Five goals and a statement

If one only looks at the brace against Cambodia, it could be seen as a brilliant performance. But placed within the entire journey of the 2026 ASEAN Cup, Đình Bắc's display carries greater significance.

In the opening match against Timor-Leste, he scored a hat-trick and provided an assist in a 7-0 victory. Sofascore at that time rated Đình Bắc a perfect 10, an exceptionally impressive debut in the Southeast Asian championship.

After three goals in the opener, he went through a forgettable match against Singapore, then continued to be trusted against Indonesia, and finally exploded with a brace against Cambodia.

Thus, Đình Bắc has scored 5 goals in the group stage, temporarily leading the 2026 ASEAN Cup Golden Boot race. More importantly, he has shown the ability to bounce back from failure, a particularly crucial quality for a young player.

In fact, Đình Bắc is not an unfamiliar name to Coach Kim Sang-sik. Before the ASEAN Cup, he also made his mark at the 2026 U23 Asian Cup. In the quarterfinal against the UAE, Đình Bắc came on and scored to make it 2-1, helping Vietnam's U23 team win 3-2 after 120 minutes and secure a semifinal spot.

At 22 years old, Đình Bắc is at a crucial turning point in his career. He still has limitations, especially in terms of consistency in decision-making and tactical discipline, which once prompted Coach Kim to remind him.

But the 2026 ASEAN Cup is showing a different version of Đình Bắc: one who can handle pressure, correct mistakes, and most importantly, step up at the right moment.