'Hero' of U19 SLNA Nguyen Canh Tiep: Tran Nguyen Manh's version

It should be noted that Nguyen Canh Tiep was coached by theU19 Song Lam Nghe Anput on the field when the official time of the match is counted in seconds.

Goalkeeper Nguyen Canh Tiep was brought in during the final minutes of extra time of the match. Photo: Hai Hoang

After this rare achievement, goalkeeper Nguyen Canh Tiep said he was very happy to contribute to the team's semi-final. "The young goalkeeper of U19 SLNA also shared that this is the first time he has saved 4 11m kicks in 1 match. I am very happy. Before entering the field, the coach encouraged me to be confident and show my best," Nguyen Canh Tiep said.

He continuously successfully blocked U19 Thanh Hoa's penalty kicks. Photo: Hai Hoang

It is worth mentioning that Nguyen Canh Tiep does not have a truly ideal physique (1m73 tall, 63kg), but in return, the goalkeeper who is about to turn 19 has the ability to react "as fast as lightning" and judge as if he could read the opponent's mind. Remember, nearly 4 years ago, in the final match of the 2018 National U15 Championship against U15 Viettel, Nguyen Canh Tiep was also the hero of U15 Song Lam Nghe An when he successfully saved the decisive penalty kick, helping his team win the championship.

Canh Tiep was voted the best player of the match. Photo: Hai Hoang

Two years later, in the U17 Song Lam Nghe An jersey, Nguyen Canh Tiep continued to shine at the 2020 National U17 Championship. In the penalty shootout in the final match against U17 PVF, Nguyen Canh Tiep also successfully blocked a penalty, helping U17 Song Lam Nghe An win the right to play in the final match. On the day the 2020 National U17 Championship ended, U17 Song Lam Nghe An won the championship (defeating U17 Nutifood 3-2), and Nguyen Canh Tiep was awarded the title of Best Goalkeeper.

The joy of goalkeeper coach Le Hung and his students. Photo by Hai Hoang

Coach Dinh Van Dung of U19 SLNA said: his team and U19 Thanh Hoa had a good match, the victory on penalties that U19 SLNA had was a stroke of luck. “Nguyen Canh Tiep is the main goalkeeper of U19 SLNA, however he was injured so he could not play from the beginning of the match. When it came to the penalty shootout, we put our trust in Nguyen Canh Tiep and he performed very well.”

Watching Nguyen Canh Tiep play, many Nghe An football fans will think of goalkeeper Tran Nguyen Manh, especially in the one-on-one matches on the 11m mark. In the final match against U21 Dong Nai at the 2010 National U21 Championship, held at Pleiku Stadium (Gia Lai), Tran Nguyen Manh also successfully blocked 3 penalty kicks from the opposing team. Unfortunately, U21 Song Lam Nghe An still had to watch U21 Dong Nai lift the championship.

U19 SLNA celebrates victory. Photo: Hai Hoang

Look no further than the semi-final first leg against the Thai team at the AFF Cup 2020, which took place at the end of last year, Tran Nguyen Manh prevented Chanathip Songkrasin from scoring from the penalty spot (minute 85). It would not be an exaggeration to say that Tran Nguyen Manh is one of the best goalkeepers in Vietnamese football in recent times. The achievements of Song Lam Nghe An in the past, Viettel and the current Vietnam team, are largely due to the 31-year-old goalkeeper.

Tran Nguyen Manh's successes will be a motivation for Nguyen Canh Tiep to strive on his career path. Furthermore, Tran Nguyen Manh and Nguyen Canh Tiep are both from Do Luong district and are both favorite students of coach Le Manh Hung, the goalkeeper coach at Song Lam Nghe An training center. Hopefully, in the near future, Nghe An football fans will see Nguyen Canh Tiep play in the V.League in the hometown team's jersey.

With this victory, U19 SLNA will meet U19 Viettel in the semi-final on April 4.