Đình Bắc bids farewell to the Southeast Asian Cup without scoring any goals

Đình Bắc ended his participation in the ASEAN Club Championship 2025/2026 without appearing in the last game and failing to score for CLB CAHN.

A dominant 6-1 victory over Tampines Rovers at Hàng Đẫy Stadium helped CLB Công An Hà Nội close their campaign in the ASEAN Club Championship 2025/2026 (Shopee Cup) with an impressive result. However, behind this goal feast lies a somber note named Nguyễn Đình Bắc, a young player highly anticipated but who didn’t get the chance to play or leave a scoring mark in his farewell to the regional tournament this year.

The match on the evening of February 4th was merely a formality for CLB Công An Hà Nội, as the police-affiliated team had already been eliminated in earlier rounds. Given the recent intense V-League schedule, coach Alexandre Polking deliberately rotated his squad, prioritizing rest for key players. Names like Quang Hải, Văn Hậu, Filip, and Mauk were not registered to play, while Đình Bắc remained on the bench.

Using a secondary lineup did not significantly affect CAHN’s gameplay. After conceding an early goal at the 12th minute, the Vietnamese representative quickly regained control. Gomes equalized with a header just three minutes later, setting the stage for a one-sided match at Hàng Đẫy. Coach Polking’s players dominated possession and continuously pressured the Singaporean side’s goal.

Goals by Văn Đô in the 28th minute and a skillful finish by Văn Đức in the 33rd minute gave CAHN a 3-1 lead before halftime. In the second half, the dominance persisted. Vitao scored to make it 4-1 with a neat run and finish, followed by Alan’s brace in the final minutes, sealing a commanding 6-1 win for the home team.

Nevertheless, amid this explosive performance, Đình Bắc was not given even a single minute on the pitch. The 2004-born player is still recovering his fitness after consecutive competitions with Vietnam’s U23 team at SEA Games 33 and the 2026 U23 Asian Championship. In his most recent V-League appearance against Ninh Bình, he came off the bench but unfortunately had a goal disallowed, prolonging the wait for his breakthrough.

At the end of the group stage, CLB Công An Hà Nội earned 7 points from 5 matches, placing 4th in Group A, officially bidding farewell to the ASEAN Club Championship 2025/2026. Unlike last season when the club finished as runners-up, this year’s tournament ended with many regrets, especially for Đình Bắc, who left the Southeast Asian competition without scoring despite still being regarded as a promising talent for the future of Vietnamese football.