The Secret Behind Tien Linh Giving the Penalty to the Vietnamese Overseas Player

Without needing any explanation, Tien Linh chose to respond by action, giving the decisive penalty kick to Khoa Ngo and celebrating emotionally with his teammates in the victory over Dong Nai on March 20.

The 1-0 victory over Truong Tuoi Dong Nai at Thong Nhat Stadium not only propelled Ho Chi Minh City Police into the semi-finals of the 2025/26 National Cup but also left a special mark.

It was the image of captain Tien Linh holding the ball, proactively handing the penalty kick opportunity to his shining younger teammateKhoa Ngo.

The match was tense, fitting a knockout style. Dong Nai entered with great determination, but the gap compared to their V-League opponent became clear in the second half.

The turning point came in the 70th minute, when Khoa Ngo capitalized on Huynh Tan Sinh's mistake, stole the ball, and sprinted into the penalty area.

The defender, who once wore the U23 Vietnam jersey, had to commit a foul. After the away team requested a VAR review, they suffered another shock when the referee not only awarded a penalty but also issued a red card to Tan Sinh.

At the 11-meter spot, instead of the experienced striker Tien Linh taking it as the club had previously assigned, the captainof Ho Chi Minh City Policedecided to keep the ball and give it to Khoa Ngo. The young player born in 2006 did not disappoint everyone's trust.

The cool shot defeated Bui Tan Truong, bringing the only goal of the match. Notably, when Tan Truong participated in the SEA Games at age 20, that was the time Khoa Ngo was born.

For Ho Chi Minh City Police Club, the momentTien Linhran to hug Khoa Ngo in celebration was the clearest answer to all rumors of discord. There is no negative rivalry, only team spirit and support for a talent in bloom.

It should be added that Khoa Ngo is an interesting "find" in the V-League. With speed, technique, and confidence, he constantly unsettled Dong Nai's defense. Although only 1.65m tall, his dribbling ability, high technique, agility, and modern playing mindset help this Vietnamese overseas player make a difference.

After six matches, he has scored four crucial goals and become an indispensable element in Coach Le Huynh Duc's system. Khoa Ngo's four goals have contributed to Ho Chi Minh City Police winning 100% of those matches, an impressive efficiency for a player in his first V-League season.

Meanwhile, Tien Linh is going through a difficult period. The missed chance at the end of the match, when facing Tan Truong after Khoa Ngo's setup, is clear evidence. His lack of luck in front of goal continues his "dry spell," and not being called up to the Vietnam national team by Coach Kim Sang Sik is not too surprising.

But precisely in that context, Tien Linh's act of giving away the penalty instead of taking it to hope for ending his goal drought is even more valuable. It shows the maturity of a player who knows to put collective interest above personal ego.

Khoa Ngo might be the one disadvantaged as he cannot yet join the national team due to legal procedural issues. With his current form, he fully deserves to be given an opportunity. What this player demonstrates is not just potential, but already practical capability.

The victory over Dong Nai helps Ho Chi Minh City Police advance to the semi-finals, where they will face Nam Dinh. For Khoa Ngo, this is just the beginning. For Tien Linh, it could be a necessary setback to return stronger.