Dinh Bac sealed the 2-1 victory, sending CAHN into the round of 16; paying tribute to Polking.
Nguyen Dinh Bac scored the winning goal against Beijing Guoan, securing Hanoi Police's place in the AFC Champions League Two Round of 16; he also paid tribute to coach Mano Polking for his encouragement during difficult times.
The decisive moment came in the final minutes. Nguyen Dinh Bac unleashed a decisive shot, securing a 2-1 victory for Hanoi Police against Beijing Guoan, thus sending the team into the Round of 16 of the AFC Champions League Two. The goal was dubbed the "golden goal" by the 2004-born striker himself – and he dedicated it to coach Mano Polking.
The golden goal and a ticket to the round of 16.
In a match decided at the most tense moment, Dinh Bac chose the perfect time to appear. His late strike not only sealed a 2-1 victory against Beijing Guoan but also opened the door to the knockout round for Hanoi Police. In that sense, the goal was likened to "gold" – helping the team secure a place in the Round of 16 of this continental tournament.
After the match, Dinh Bac emphasized that the team deserved the victory, stemming from a "dedicated and dominant" performance. At this level, completing the task under immense pressure further highlights the value of the team's character and tactical discipline demonstrated throughout the 90 minutes.
A message of gratitude to Coach Mano Polking
The most emotional moment came from Dinh Bac's statement. He said: "I want to dedicate this goal to Coach Polking. He has always encouraged me for quite a long time when I wasn't scoring."
The young striker said that the coaching staff's trust never wavered, even during times when he was on the bench or experiencing a dip in form: "When I wasn't in good form, the coach still encouraged me to train before the match. When I wasn't playing, he still encouraged me, still believed in me, and reminded me to stay focused. I'm truly grateful that he was always there, always helping me not to give up until now."
Dinh Bac affirmed the long-term influence of the Brazilian coach since he joined the team: “From the first time I joined the team, Coach Polking helped me a lot in every training session. There were periods when I wasn't playing well, but he was always there to encourage me and say: 'Keep going, move forward.' That's how he helped me stay motivated.”
Trust is exchanged for courage at the decisive moment.
From what Dinh Bac shared, the prominent role of human resource management in this success is evident. When a young striker goes through a period of goal drought, patience and a clear message from the coach – “stay focused, keep moving forward” – become the foundation for maintaining good training habits and a readiness to seize opportunities when given the chance.
The late goal was a symbolic reward: for the 20-year-old's individual effort and for the faith the manager placed in him. That kind of cohesion is often the detail that separates a team that overcomes the peak of pressure from one that falters at the crucial moment.
A well-deserved victory and a promising sign for the road ahead.
Dinh Bac emphasized that the victory came from a "dedicated and dominant" performance. At the continental level, dominating the game is not just about the ball rolling, but also about maintaining intensity, reorganizing the team's formation after each transition, and not losing composure in the final moments. CAHN did enough to advance to the round of 16 – a testament to their collective progress.
For Dinh Bac personally, this goal could become a significant psychological milestone. Not only did it end his goal drought, but it also reinforced his belief that his approach – perseverance and focus – is on the right track. For the team, the 2-1 victory against Beijing Guoan and the ticket to the knockout round represent confirmation of the path they are pursuing under coach Mano Polking.
In knockout matches, the deciding factor often comes down to mental preparation, the ability to withstand pressure, and the capacity to capitalize on opportunities. The qualities demonstrated in this match will be a valuable foundation for the next stage.
Echoes from the dressing room
The atmosphere after the match was encapsulated in Dinh Bac's words of gratitude: a feeling of relief after difficult days, and appreciation for his coach who was always there, reminding him to "keep going, move forward." On a night where a goal decided the fate of the match and the ticket to the next round, the strongest message came from the bond between the player and the coach – a bond proven by the results on the field.