Cong Phuong and Van Duc made it into the top 5 best Vietnamese strikers of 2018.
(Baonghean.vn) - People from Nghe An have every right to be proud that two of the top five strikers of 2018, Cong Phuong and Van Duc, are sons of their hometown. These two players also received the titles of Most Popular Player and Bronze Ball 2018.
Although he no longer holds a regular starting position in the Vietnamese national team's attack, statistics show that in 2018, Cong Phuong was the top scorer in all competitions. Having participated in all four tournaments, Cong Phuong was always a name that garnered significant media attention due to his distinctive plays.
The best strikers in Vietnam
Accordingly,Cong PhuongHe tops the list of Vietnam's best strikers with 23 goals, including 12 in the V-League, 3 in the National Cup, 1 in the U23 Asian Championship, 2 in the ASIAD, 1 in a friendly match for the Vietnamese national team, and 3 in the recently concluded AFF Cup. Thus, in every competition he has participated in, the number 10 of the Vietnamese national team has scored a goal.
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| Phuong was the top scorer of 2018. (Photo: VFF) |
The HAGL player's style of play has become less complicated, with more coordination with teammates. The 2019 Asian Cup is the arena for Cong Phuong to regain his former image.
Coming in second on this list is none other than the 2018 Vietnamese Golden Ball winner.Nguyen Quang Hai.The midfielder, currently playing for Hanoi FC, has scored 20 goals in all competitions. The best player of the 2018 AFF Cup can play well both as a central midfielder and a winger, but it is only when coach Park Hang-seo deploys him on the wing that he can fully showcase his qualities as Vietnam's best passer.
Meanwhile, the best domestic striker in V.League 2018 isTien LinhHe only ranked third last year with 17 goals. In fact, the Binh Duong player possesses all the qualities of a center forward, including physique, stamina, and goal-scoring ability. The fact that Tien Linh only scored 2 goals last year is simply due to a lack of seamless coordination with his senior teammates. In our opinion, if he is more clinical in his playing time under Coach Park, this striker could go much further.
Song Duc was impressive.
In fourth place,Phan Van DucHe was named the winner with 17 goals. The SLNA midfielder scored 9 goals in the V-League, 2 in the National Cup, 1 in the AFC Cup, 1 in the U23 Championship, 1 in a friendly match for the Vietnam national team, 1 in the 18th Asian Games, and 2 in the AFF Cup.
While Văn Đức was still a name that sparked skepticism at the end of 2017, in 2018 he became the player most frequently mentioned by experts for his dedication and effort on the field. It's rare for a player in their first year as a starter to "carry the team" at the club level like this number 20 player.
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| Both Song Duc and Song Duc have made their mark this year. (Photo: VFF) |
The final player on the list of the 5 best Vietnamese strikers of 2018 is the Silver Ball winner.Anh DucWith 14 goals, scoring 4 goals at the 2018 AFF Cup at the age of 33 proves that this veteran's professional ability is still very good. Anh Duc will not play much for the national team anymore, but his contributions will still be remembered as a role model on the Vietnamese football field.
Four out of the five names mentioned above will be competing at the beginning of 2019, and at least three of them will be in the starting lineup at the 2019 Asian Cup. Fans nationwide, and especially those from Nghe An province, wish them early success in scoring their first goals of the new year. After a breakthrough year, Van Duc now faces a greater challenge; hopefully, he will continue to perform effectively.
The 2019 Asian Cup was also a showcase for Quang Hai, attracting top clubs in the region. With eight Thai players currently playing in Japan, it's believed Quang Hai fully deserves to play in Japanese leagues or other major Asian competitions – he just needs to score goals!