Trung Kien could not save HAGL.

Young goalkeeper Trung Kien played well but could not rescue a fragile HAGL against Ninh Binh. Despite the visiting team's decline, luck shone through Van Thuan, enough to cause HAGL an unacceptable reverse defeat in round 17 of V-League 2025/26.

The 1-2 defeat of Hoang Anh Gia Lai against Ninh Binh FC at Pleiku Stadium was not just a simple stumble but also exposed an old problem. It is the inexplicable fragility of the Mountain City team.

HAGL's number one goalkeeper Tran Trung Kien was completely overshadowed by Le Van Thuan, who created a turning point from the bench.

HAGL started off perfectly. Dinh Lam's early goal, the overwhelming momentum, consecutive opportunities, and even a goal denied by VAR, all created the feeling that the home team would control the match.

But that was also when people began to get used to an old script. HAGL played well for about 60-70 minutes, before... collapsing on their own.

The problem of this team is not in creating opportunities, but in the composure to maintain momentum. When the second half began,HAGLstill held the ball, still attacked, but the sharpness had disappeared. More importantly, Coach Le Quang Trai's team lost focus, which has become a "chronic disease" throughout the season.

The appearance ofVan Thuanfrom the bench was the turning point. Sent onto the field by Coach Vu Tien Thanh, this midfielder immediately made a difference. A dribble forced VAR to intervene and brought a penalty for Geovane to equalize, then a classy left-footed curling shot in the 84th minute. Van Thuan affirmed the value of a player who knows how to change a match.

Ironically, Van Thuan was the one who made a mistake in the first leg, contributing to HAGL's victory. The former Thanh Hoa player spectacularly repaid his team with a brilliant performance in the return leg. But football always has such cruel cycles.

In both conceded goals, Trung Kien almost had no chance to save. HAGL's goalkeeper had a spectacular save from Bao Toan's header in the first half. Compared to the excellence of Van Lam on Ninh Binh's side, Trung Kien was also stable but could not save a HAGL playing like they were asleep in the second half.

Trung Kien could also be a miniature image of HAGL at this moment. That is having much potential but lacking composure. HAGL can play well, even very well for a period, but do not know how to finish the match. The feeling that HAGL "can only play for 70 minutes" is no longer an observation but has become a repeatedly occurring reality.

The round 17 victory helped Ninh Binh rise to 31 points, consolidating the 3rd position and creating a 4-point gap with 4th-ranked Hanoi FC. ForCoach Vu Tien Thanh, this was also a special victory as he defeated his former club. This is Coach Thanh's first victory since being loaned by HAGL to lead Ninh Binh in the V-League arena.

Conversely, HAGL continues to sink deep in the bottom group with only 15 points and the 12th position. The gap with the bottom-ranked PVF CAND is only 3 points, a number enough to make anyone worried.