Vietnamese Football News Roundup 20/4: Dinh Bac shines, Vietnam U17 sets unbeaten record.
Striker Nguyen Dinh Bac consistently scored goals, helping CAHN to thrive, while the Vietnam U17 team advanced to the semi-finals of the Southeast Asian tournament with an impressive 14-match unbeaten streak under coach Cristiano Roland.
April 20, 2026 marks significant milestones for Vietnamese football, from club level to youth teams. The spotlight is on the strong resurgence of striker Nguyen Dinh Bac in the V.League and the unprecedented record set by the U17 national team under coach Cristiano Roland.
Dinh Bac and the expectations from coach Mano Polking
Nguyen Dinh Bac's performance in the CAHN jersey is becoming a hot topic of discussion. In the match against CA TP.HCM, the striker born in 2004 continued his scoring streak, marking his 4th goal in just the last 3 rounds. This is an impressive scoring rate for a young player who has faced a lot of public pressure.
Coach Mano Polking couldn't hide his satisfaction with his player. He praised his perseverance and affirmed that Dinh Bac has yet to reach his potential limit. According to the strategist, the progress of the striker from Nghe An is not only reflected in his goals but also in his ability to contribute to the team's overall play and his effort in every play.
Vietnam U17 sets a record of 14 unbeaten matches.
The Vietnam U17 team just finished the group stage of the 2026 Southeast Asian U17 Championship at the top of Group A after a 0-0 draw against host nation Indonesia. Despite being held to a draw in a match where the Vietnamese strikers dominated possession, this result was enough for coach Cristiano Roland's team to secure a place in the semi-finals against defending champions Australia.
Notably, this result helped coach Roland set a record of 14 consecutive unbeaten matches (10 wins, 4 draws) across 4 different competitions. Professional statistics show an incredible balance under the Brazilian strategist's tenure: scoring 54 goals and conceding only 3. The Southeast Asian Football Federation (AFF) praised the resilience and stability of the young Vietnamese team for controlling the game well under pressure from the home side.
Malaysia U17 benefited from Vietnam's result.
Vietnam's draw inadvertently opened the door to the semi-finals for the Malaysian U17 team. After their 2-0 victory over Timor Leste, Malaysia officially advanced thanks to goal difference. However, the media and fans in the country still expressed caution, arguing that their team's playing style still has many limitations in the midfield and in the final finishing ability.
Coach Vu Hong Viet was not satisfied despite Nam Dinh winning 3 points.
In Round 19 of the V.League 2025/26, Nam Dinh Steel secured an important victory against SHB Da Nang to consolidate their position. However, coach Vu Hong Viet unexpectedly made harsh comments about the team's attack immediately after the match.
The strategist stated that he was unhappy with the players missing so many clear-cut opportunities. The lack of sharpness in finishing could become the team's Achilles' heel in the long-term championship race. Overall, despite securing three points, Nam Định still has many issues to improve regarding their ability to convert chances into goals.