In an eventful match at Thanh Hoa Stadium, American overseas Vietnamese player Le Trung Vinh made his debut in Vietnamese football as he entered the field in the 46th minute during Ba Ria Vung Tau's 0-4 defeat to Thanh Hoa.
Trung Vinh's appearance marked the first time an American overseas Vietnamese player has played in a professional match in Vietnamese football. Although it was only the Round of 16 in the National Cup, it was a significant milestone for the player.
However, it was not a happy debut for Trung Vinh, as his team, BR-VT, suffered a loss to the V.League side. Thanh Hoa took an early lead in the first half with goals from Trinh Van Loi and Le Van Thang, both scored with headers. The home team added two more goals in the second half through Doan Ngoc Tan and Le Minh Tung.
Trung Vinh had an opportunity to score for himself in the 92nd minute when his teammate, Le Quyen Huy Tin, had a two-on-one situation but chose not to pass to him. This missed chance prevented BR-VT from finding an equalizer.
Born in 2003 in Chicago, USA, Trung Vinh is of Vietnamese descent and had previously trained at a Community Football Center affiliated with FC Barcelona in the United States. He joined HCM City club at the beginning of the 2023 season but was not registered for the V.League.
After four months of training with coach Vu Tien Thanh, Trung Vinh was registered for the National Cup with Ba Ria Vung Tau. However, he did not feature in the initial squad. It was not until June 2023, when he moved to BR-VT, that he made his debut in Vietnamese football.
With the 0-4 defeat against Thanh Hoa, Trung Vinh and his teammates were eliminated from the tournament. The 20-year-old player will now need to work harder to secure a chance to play in the 2023 National First Division. Although his performance in the match did not leave a lasting impression, he has the opportunity to continue developing his skills.
Thanh Hoa will now face Phu Dong Club in the quarter-final series on July 10.
