Coach Bae Ji-won wins his debut match for Ninh Binh 3-0: Surprising, he beat PVF-CAND so easily.
New head coach Bae Ji-won made an impressive start with Ninh Binh, securing a 3-0 victory against PVF-CAND, while also revealing a surprising reason for benching star player Hoang Duc.
Coach Bae Ji-won had a promising start as head coach of Ninh Binh with a dominant 3-0 victory over PVF-CAND in round 19. This result not only helped the team from the ancient capital consolidate its position but also dispelled doubts about the South Korean strategist's ability to adapt to the new football environment.
An unexpectedly dominant performance.
Despite only recently taking over the team, Bae Ji-won quickly made a strong impression in terms of playing style. Ninh Binh started proactively, completely controlled the game, and quickly sealed the result with three convincing goals. After the match, the 63-year-old coach couldn't hide his surprise at how quickly his players adapted.
“Tonight was truly amazing. The players played a game better than I expected,” said coach Bae Ji-won. He admitted to feeling considerable pressure before the match: “Honestly, as a newly appointed head coach, I was very worried about the team’s fitness and professional adaptation. This resounding victory surprised me.”
Strategic math with "trump card" Hoang Duc
The focus of attention on Bae's debut day wasn't just the result, but also the absence of star player Hoang Duc from the starting lineup. Many considered this a significant loss, but the reality on the pitch proved that Ninh Binh still operated smoothly thanks to its impressive squad depth.
Explaining this decision, the South Korean strategist affirmed that it was a tactical move to protect a key player for the long term. He revealed: “Hoang Duc is now ready to play. However, we want to save him for more important matches ahead. Next week, the team will face a very strong opponent, so I am considering bringing him back at that time to increase the team's competitiveness.”
Expectations for future promotion.
The 3-0 victory against a tough opponent like PVF-CAND is a strong affirmation of Ninh Binh's ambitions under the new regime. Discipline in defense and effectiveness in attack are the bright spots that coach Bae Ji-won has initially built.
Overall, securing all three points even while resting a key player demonstrates Ninh Binh's flexible operational system. With Hoang Duc's return next week, the strength of the team from the ancient capital promises to explode even further, creating a significant advantage in the fiercely contested promotion race.