Nguyen Dinh Bac crosses the ball during Vietnam's 0-0 draw against Singapore in the third match of Group A of the ASEAN Cup 2026, at My Dinh stadium, Hanoi, on the evening of 31/7. Photo: Ngoc Thanh

Nguyen Dinh Bac had several scoring opportunities in the first half against Singapore during the third group A match on the evening of 31/7. However, he rushed one shot wide of the post and sent two close-range attempts over the bar. Coach Kim substituted him in the 41st minute.

Speaking to the media after the match, the Nghe An-born forward stated that he had a poor game and did not meet expectations. "I missed two scoring chances. If I had converted them, the match would have been much easier," he said. "Sometimes, things in football cannot always go smoothly. I will return to training to perform my role better in the next match."

After scoring a hat-trick against Timor Leste, Dinh Bac was expected by fans to maintain his high form against Singapore. However, his play appeared rushed, giving the impression he was aiming for spectacular goals rather than calm finishes. Addressing the criticism, Dinh Bac stated he disregards all negative comments and emphasized: "I will respond to those negative reactions with my performance on the field."

During the post-match press conference, coach Kim explained Dinh Bac's early substitution because he "had not completed his task." The 21-year-old player acknowledged this, admitting that being substituted for not fulfilling his role is natural. "Coach Kim has not shared much, but I need to try harder," he stated.

Main events of the match.

The 0-0 draw against Singapore is not yet a disaster for Vietnam. However, the road ahead is becoming difficult for coach Kim Sang-sik and his team. Today, the team will travel to Jakarta, then move 80 km to Bogor to face host Indonesia in a pivotal match on 3/8.

If Vietnam wins or draws, they will control their destiny for a semi-final spot. Conversely, a loss to Indonesia will put the defending champions in a tight spot for their final group match against Cambodia at home on 7/8.

Duc Dong