National Cup Semi-finals: Ninh Binh faces The Cong Viettel in a clash to determine class.
The 2025/26 National Cup semi-final between Ninh Binh and The Cong Viettel promises to be dramatic as coach Chu Dinh Nghiem faces a defensive "concrete" team, a trademark of Velizar Popov.
At 6:00 PM on June 11th, Ninh Binh Stadium will become the focal point of Vietnamese football with the 2025/26 National Cup semi-final match between two leading forces in the V-League: Ninh Binh and The Cong Viettel. This is not only a battle for a place in the final but also a high-stakes tactical clash between two completely opposing football philosophies.
The contrast between aggressive, imposing tactics and disciplined pragmatism.
Ninh Binh entered the match in impressive form, maintaining an 80% win rate in their last 5 games. Under the guidance of coach Chu Dinh Nghiem, the team from the ancient capital has transformed into a proactive ball-controlling team. The coach's philosophy is based on pushing the team forward, utilizing quick one-two passes in the midfield to stretch the opponent's defense.
In contrast, The Cong Viettel, under coach Velizar Popov, is a symbol of tenacity. The military team prioritizes absolute security in their defense, setting up a deep defensive block to seal off any space in front of the 16.5-meter penalty area. This pragmatism makes them one of the most difficult defenses to beat in the league, although sometimes at the cost of an explosive attack.
Balance of power and personnel losses
In terms of personnel, Ninh Binh has a significant advantage with its strongest squad, unaffected by injuries or suspensions. Meanwhile, The Cong Viettel will travel to the away game without midfielder Van Tu due to accumulating three yellow cards. This is a considerable loss in the visitors' ability to intercept and transition attacks.
| Information | Ninh Binh | Viettel Sports |
|---|---|---|
| Form (5 matches) | Win 80% | Stable, pragmatic |
| Head Coach | Chu Dinh Nghiem | Velizar Popov |
| Military casualties | Do not have | Van Tu (suspended) |
| History of confrontations | Draw 1-1 | Draw 1-1 |
Hoang Duc and Lucas: The game-changers
All eyes will be on Nguyen Hoang Duc, the heart and soul of Ninh Binh's gameplay. The Vietnamese Golden Ball winner's ability to escape pressing and his tactical vision are key to breaking through The Cong's defensive wall. Alongside him, Geovane (Nguyen Tai Loc) is also a dangerous threat with his individual dribbling skills.
On the opposite side, striker Lucas is Coach Popov's number one hope. With 11 goals scored this season, Lucas only needs a moment of carelessness from the central defenders Thanh Trung and Ngoc Bao to deliver the decisive blow. The battle in the center circle between Duc Chien and Van Thuan (Ninh Binh) and Van Tram and Wesley (The Cong) is predicted to be extremely fierce.
A breathtaking and predictable scenario.
The head-to-head history shows a perfect balance, with the two most recent encounters in the V-League both ending in a 1-1 draw. Given the knockout nature of the match, both teams are likely to approach it cautiously. Ninh Binh has the home advantage, but finding a way past Van Viet's goal will be difficult. A back-and-forth game that goes to a penalty shootout is a very real possibility to decide who will advance to the final.
