Goalkeeper Bui Tien Dung and his water bottle, which detailed the penalty kick directions of Binh Phuoc players.

On 27/6, Da Nang faced Binh Phuoc in a play-off match for a spot in the 2025-2026 V-League. If the match was tied after 90 minutes, a penalty shootout would decide the winner. Da Nang's coaching staff had Bui Tien Dung study Binh Phuoc players' penalty kick habits and record them on his water bottle.

This preparation proved invaluable. In the 78th minute, facing a penalty kick from Cong Phuong, Bui Tien Dung calmly dove to his left, deflecting the ball and preserving Da Nang's 1-0 lead. His save matched the notes on his water bottle: "slow, left".

Goalkeeper Bui Tien Dung saves Cong Phuong's penalty in the 78th minute during Da Nang's 2-0 victory over Binh Phuoc in the play-off match on 27/6 at Thong Nhat Stadium. Photo: Duc Dong

The 28-year-old goalkeeper's performance boosted Da Nang's confidence, leading to a second goal shortly after by Ha Minh Tuan, securing a 2-0 victory and their place in the V-League.

After the match, coach Le Duc Tuan revealed that the coaching staff spent three days strategizing against Binh Phuoc, including analyzing Cong Phuong's penalty kicks. "We worked with both goalkeepers, Bui Tien Dung and Phan Van Bieu, preparing them for Binh Phuoc's penalty kicks. And in this match, Bui Tien Dung successfully anticipated Cong Phuong," he said.

Bui Tien Dung rose to prominence with the U19 team that finished 4th in the 2016 Asian Championship and participated in the 2017 FIFA U20 World Cup. The Thanh Hoa native goalkeeper's career highlight was contributing to the U23 team's second-place finish in the 2018 Asian Championship with impressive penalty saves.

From 2018 to 2024, Tien Dung played for various clubs: Thanh Hoa, Ha Noi FC, Ho Chi Minh City FC (twice), CAHN, and HAGL. However, he struggled to secure a starting position and lost his spot on the national team in 2020. In early 2025, Tien Dung joined Da Nang, becoming a regular starter and playing a key role in their fight to avoid relegation. On 10/5, he even scored a goal in Da Nang's 3-1 victory over Binh Dinh in the V-League 2024-2025 relegation play-off final.

According to coach Tuan Duc, Bui Tien Dung now contributes significantly to the team's overall play, not just with penalty saves. He praised the 27-year-old goalkeeper's reflexes and improved handling of crosses and distribution. "Our playing style is high pressing, trapping the opponent in their half. Tien Dung's ability to read the game, come off his line, and distribute the ball helps us immensely," Tuan Duc stated.

Duc Dong