Goalkeeper Nguyen Van Cong - the new version of Duong Hong Son at Hanoi Club
(Baonghean.vn) - Up to now, there have been many players from Nghe An playing for Hanoi FC, but goalkeeper Nguyen Van Cong is a typical example of a talent that quickly found a place to show his talent.
V.League 2013 was the time when SLNA had a team with enough heroes, capable of competing for the championship and was led by coach Nguyen Huu Thang. In the match between SLNA and Hanoi at Vinh Stadium that season, Van Cong appeared in the goal of the away team and became the most notable character.
At that time, goalkeeper Duong Hong Son did not play, surpassing goalkeeper Ngoc Tu, Nguyen Van Cong was the first to wear gloves to start in V.League. This goalkeeper, who was just 21 years old at that time, had an excellent match and discouraged the strikers of SLNA, from Trong Hoang, Hector to Kavin Bryan.
The final whistle blew, Hanoi held SLNA to a goalless draw, President Nguyen Quoc Hoi ran back to hug the young goalkeeper. The young goalkeeper of Hanoi made such an impression that Nghe An fans had to ask: Where did this goalkeeper come from?
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| Six years ago, goalkeeper Van Cong made his debut for Hanoi FC at Vinh Stadium. Photo: Quang Thai |
Goalkeeper Nguyen Van Cong was born in 1992 in Quy Hop. Along with Ngan Van Dai and Sam Ngoc Duc, he is the most typical product of the VST training center located in Cua Lo, Nghe An in the early stages of its establishment. Demonstrating talent and good height (1m80), in 2009, Van Cong was selected by Hanoi scouts for the Hanoi Club youth team. A year later, Van Cong was promoted to the Hanoi first team as a reserve for Duong Hong Son. After a few years of being coached by his seniors, Van Cong grew visibly and made a strong impression on the Hanoi Club coaching staff.
In 2013 and 2014, goalkeeper Van Cong consecutively won the title of Best Goalkeeper at the National U21 Finals. After that, he joined the Vietnam U21 team to participate in the international U21 tournament (winning the championship in 2013 and winning the title of Best Goalkeeper in 2014).
However, after Hong Son retired, Van Cong's career still faced many challenges. In Hanoi FC, there was no shortage of good goalkeepers, from Phi Minh Long to Tran Anh Duc. After his debut match in his hometown, until 2016, Van Cong still had to compete for a starting position with the rest, he only played a couple of matches a season.
Although he was not the main goalkeeper in the V.League, the AFC Cup was Van Cong's own stage. In 2014, Van Cong was given the opportunity by coach Phan Thanh Hung to play in the continental arena. Not letting his coach down, Van Cong played excellently and contributed to helping Hanoi win all 3 victories in the group stage of the 2014 AFC Cup.
At the 28th SEA Games, coach Toshiya Miura surprised everyone by removing Van Cong from the official 23-player list. Instead, Pham Van Tien (HAGL), Phi Minh Long (Hanoi T&T) and Le Van Truong (HAGL) were selected. This decision by the Japanese coach surprised many people because at that time, Van Cong had experience playing in 4 V.League seasons.
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| Van Cong's position in Hanoi FC's goal is inviolable. Photo: HNFC |
It was not until V.League 2017 that Van Cong was truly the first choice of the capital team's coaching staff. That was the season in which goalkeeper Van Cong put on his gloves and played 22 matches, contributing greatly to Hanoi's Bronze Medal win, in the group competing for the championship. In 2018, Van Cong continued to be a solid support for his teammates with 20 matches. Out of 20 matches with Van Cong, Hanoi had 9 clean sheets. The capital team soon won the championship thanks to an extremely solid defense and only conceded 29 goals in 25 matches.
In 2019, the goalkeeper born in 1992 continued to be the number 1 goalkeeper of Hanoi Club with 22 matches. This season, Hanoi only conceded 24 goals/24 matches, together with SLNA becoming the most solid defense in V.League. Notably, of the 24 goals conceded by Hanoi, 5 goals came from two matches of goalkeeper Bui Tien Dung.
After the victory over SLNA in the 24th round, Van Cong and coach Chu Dinh Nghiem's team won the championship two rounds early. Exactly 6 years after his debut match, Van Cong returned with a completely different mindset. Not only did he play solidly in the V.League, Van Cong was also a pillar in helping Hanoi FC advance to the regional semi-finals of the AFC Cup 2019, approaching the final of the continental tournament with just 1 more match.
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| Goalkeeper Nguyen Van Cong owns a huge collection of achievements. Photo: HNFC |
In the V.League at this time, besides Nguyen Manh, Tuan Manh, Van Cong is one of the best goalkeepers. However, it seems that Van Cong has no luck with the national team shirt. He has never been noticed by coaches Toshiya Miura, Nguyen Huu Thang or now coach Park Hang-seo.
"Goalkeeper Van Cong plays excellently for Hanoi FC, but it seems he has no luck with the national team."
Looking back at Van Cong's achievements, this goalkeeper at the age of 27 has won 4 V.League championships with Hanoi Club in 2013, 2016, 2018 and 2019, runner-up in 2014 and 2015, National Super Cup in 2013, 2015, 2016, National Cup runner-up in 2015 and 2016. Currently, Van Cong has just suffered an injury but still has a chance to win the AFC Cup 2019. Not to mention the youth titles, Van Cong is the goalkeeper with the most domestic championship achievements in Vietnamese football at this time.
Currently, in the Hanoi FC jersey, there are still Van Kien, Van Dai and two young players Tuan Anh and Viet Truong, who are players from Nghe An. Being able to join a potential team like Hanoi is lucky for them and the Nghe An players themselves have all proven their abilities.
Nghe An players have a chance to win the 2019 V.League championship in their hometown
(Baonghean.vn) – Hanoi FC is facing the opportunity to win the V.League championship early if they defeat SLNA in round 24. And the Nghe An players who are playing for the defending champions also have the opportunity to win the championship in their homeland.
