Viettel The Cong 1-0 Thanh Hoa: Superb goal by Dinh Viet Tu
A left-footed shot from 26 meters in the 31st minute helped The Cong Viettel defeat Thanh Hoa 1-0 and return to the top 3 in round 9 of the V-League 2025/26; Dinh Viet Tu said 50% was luck, and assessed that Ninh Binh was currently in a dominant position.
A powerful left-footed shot from 26 meters in the 31st minute by Dinh Viet Tu secured a 1-0 victory for The Cong Viettel against Thanh Hoa in Round 9 of the V-League 2025/26. The three points propelled the military team back into the top 3, continuing their pursuit of Ninh Binh and CAHN in the race for the top spot.
Key events: the decisive 31-minute moment
In a tightly contested match, the turning point came in the 31st minute when Dinh Viet Tu – a former player of the Thanh Hoa team – unleashed a spectacular left-footed long-range shot from 26 meters. The ball traveled with power and precision, leaving goalkeeper Xuan Hoang with no chance to save it. The defender, born in 1992, did not celebrate, showing respect for his former team. The 1-0 score remained until the end of the match, bringing a sense of satisfaction.clean sheetand a narrow victory for The Cong Viettel.
Post-match reaction: collective effort and 50% luck.
After the match, Dinh Viet Tu emphasized the significance of the three points, especially considering the team had just lost to HAGL in the previous round: “This victory is very significant for The Cong. After the loss to HAGL in the previous round, the players all sat down and encouraged each other to keep trying. Today, the team played with great effort. Before going onto the field, the players were determined to win the match to catch up with the teams above them.”
Speaking about his spectacular "falling leaf" goal, he frankly stated: "I wasn't thinking anything in that situation; I just saw the ball in front of me and shot. In my opinion, 50% of that goal was luck."
Impact on the V-League 2025/26 championship race
With 3 points at Thanh Hoa stadium, The Cong Viettel returned to the top 3, behind Ninh Binh (1) and CAHN (2). Commenting on the leading group, Dinh Viet Tu said that Ninh Binh is in the lead: “Among the three teams, Ninh Binh is undefeated and has very good form this season. However, the race is still long and I think all teams have a chance.”
Situation after Round 9: CAHN closes in, relegation battle intensifies.
The victory against PVF-CAND helped CAHN close the gap on Ninh Binh at the top of the table. Further down the table, the relegation battle is proving unpredictable.
Selective statistics
- Score: Thanh Hoa 0-1 The Cong Viettel
- Goalscorer: Dinh Viet Tu 31'
- Shooting distance: approximately 26 m
- Finishing foot: left foot
- Opposing goalkeeper: Xuan Hoang
- The Cong Viettel kept a clean sheet.
Tactical and psychological perspectives on competition
In a match where space is limited, a long-range shot is the solution to make a difference. Dinh Viet Tu's goal stemmed from a well-timed individual decision, thus breaking the deadlock. After the defeat in the previous round, the emphasized message was discipline and unity — factors that often shape the trajectory of a contender competing in the top half of the table.
Viettel regained their rhythm with a narrow victory, just enough to maintain pressure on the two leading teams. With Ninh Binh remaining undefeated, according to the goalscorer himself, the race at the top promises to be intense, with crucial "six-point" matches and moments like the 31st minute tonight becoming the fine line between breaking away and running out of steam.
