Brazilian foreign player hat-trick helps Bac Ninh Club start favorably in National Cup

On September 19, at Long An stadium in the 2026-2027 National Cup qualifying round, Bac Ninh Club secured a 3-2 victory over the home side. Brazilian foreign striker Brenner Marlos scored all three goals, completing the first hat-trick of the new season. This win not only advanced Bac Ninh to the next round of the National Cup but also reinforced their momentum after a 1-0 victory over championship candidate Cong An TP.HCM in Round 2 of the V-League. This marks an impressive start for a newly promoted club, though the match also revealed notable tactical issues that both teams need to address. Bac Ninh's journey to promotion was particularly remarkable last season. The club did not earn direct promotion but had to play a direct play-off against PVF-CAND, who lost the First Division final. The play-off victory brought Bac Ninh to Vietnam's top professional football tier for the first time in the club's history. This promotion simultaneously granted them entry to the National Cup — a knockout competition that offers lower-tier clubs the opportunity to cause upsets against top teams. The victory over Cong An TP.HCM in Round 2 of the V-League was executed through a defensive-counterattacking style, a common approach for newly promoted clubs that haven't had enough time to build a possession-based game. However, that win also raised questions about the sustainability of this approach, as defensive-counterattacking tactics only work effectively when opponents make mistakes or overcommit, creating space behind their defensive line. The match against Long An clearly illustrated the tactical picture of both teams. Bac Ninh under coach Paulo Foiani chose a possession-based game combined with wide attacks — pushing the ball to both flanks before crossing into the center for the striker. Long An, with a more tightly organized midfield, left gaps between their lines, particularly the space between the midfield and defensive lines. This was precisely the area Bac Ninh exploited effectively throughout the match. The opening goal came from a corner kick in the 14th minute. The corner was delivered into the penalty area, where Brenner made a run cutting across the defender's path and headed precisely into the far corner. This goal demonstrated the Brazilian striker's aerial ability — he was not only tall but also possessed good heading technique, knowing how to position himself to create space against opposing center-backs. The second goal came in the 26th minute from a pass by Phan The Hung on the left flank. The player delivered a sharp cross into the penalty area, where Brenner once again made a smart run to meet the ball and finished immediately into the far corner. This sequence showed the connection between the midfield and the striker — when the team could push the ball wide quickly and accurately, Brenner became the final destination of every attack. Long An had only one clear chance in the first half, from a corner on the right side. The header went wide of the goal by inches. Beyond that situation, the home team created virtually no real pressure on Bac Ninh's goal in the first 45 minutes. All three of Bac Ninh's goals came from set pieces or aerial balls from the flanks — an effective attacking model but also revealing that the team hadn't yet generated open-play chances through possession-based football. After halftime, Bac Ninh continued to maintain control. In the 55th minute, from a corner on the right side, the ball was delivered into the penalty area, Long An's center-back cleared but not far enough. The ball fell perfectly to Vu Hong Quan outside the penalty area, and the player struck a shot that hit the post. Immediately, Brenner was in the right position to tap in the rebound, completing his hat-trick. This play demonstrated the striker's goal-scoring instinct — he didn't just stand in the penalty area waiting for set pieces but continuously moved to find opportunities from loose balls. Brenner's three goals came from three different situations: a header from a corner, a close-range finish from a cross, and a tap-in from the post rebound. The variety in goal-scoring methods showed the striker wasn't dependent on just one type of situation. Long An began playing better after the third goal. The home team pushed their formation higher, forcing Bac Ninh to drop deeper into defense. In the 60th minute, from a corner on the right side, Long An scored to narrow the deficit to 1-3. The header from a Long An player curled into the far corner, giving Bac Ninh's goalkeeper no chance to save. This goal came from the exact weakness that Bac Ninh had exploited on the opposite side — set pieces. In the 67th minute, Long An scored again from a corner. This time, a different player headed into the far corner, bringing the score to 2-3. With two goals in seven minutes, Long An completely changed the match's dynamics. Bac Ninh, from a position of total control, was pushed into a defensive mode for the remaining 23 minutes. Bac Ninh's center-back Van Dat made an error in the aerial duel for the second goal — an individual mistake that also reflected organizational defensive issues when the team had to play deep for an extended period. Brenner completed his hat-trick with three goals from three different situations. The first play demonstrated aerial ability and intelligent movement inside the penalty area. The second showed right-foot finishing technique from close range. The third was the instinct of a poacher knowing to wait at the right position for a tap-in from the post rebound. This was a complete performance from a number 9 striker — a role requiring not only goals but also serving as the focal point for the team's attacking play. Bac Ninh was completely dependent on Brenner for scoring — a significant tactical risk. If this striker suffers an injury or loses form, Bac Ninh's attacking capacity will lose most of its potency. Developing additional scoring sources is an urgent requirement for the club to compete long-term in the V-League. Under coach Paulo Foiani, Bac Ninh has built a relatively solid defensive system, but the match against Long An showed the team still has many issues in defensive organization when forced to play deep for extended periods. The victory over Cong An TP.HCM in Round 2 of the V-League was executed through a defensive-counterattacking style, a common approach for newly promoted clubs that haven't had enough time to build a possession-based game. However, that win also raised questions about the sustainability of this approach, as defensive-counterattacking tactics only work effectively when opponents make mistakes or overcommit, creating space behind their defensive line. Promotion to the V-League means Bac Ninh Club must face a much denser fixture schedule. In addition to the V-League, the team also participates in the National Cup — a knockout competition that offers lower-tier clubs the opportunity to cause upsets against top teams. The victory over Long An was a typical example: a V-League team defeating a First Division side right on the opponent's home ground. However, the National Cup also poses its own challenges for clubs with thin squads — without sufficient squad rotation, playing multiple competitions simultaneously will pressure fitness and squad depth. This is a problem Bac Ninh's coaching staff needs to solve in the coming weeks. Long An started the season with two consecutive defeats: a 0-1 loss to Cong An Nhan Dan in Round 1 of the First Division, and now a loss to Bac Ninh in the National Cup. Pressure is mounting on this team, especially since they declared their goal of securing their first win of the season but haven't been able to deliver. The two goals in seven minutes showed Long An doesn't lack attacking ability, but the problem lies in consistency and the ability to maintain the pace throughout 90 minutes. This is a psychological and fitness weakness that the coaching staff needs to improve quickly. The National Cup provides an opportunity for Long An to regain confidence, but if they continue losing, the pressure will turn into a real crisis. The match was decided by set pieces and Brenner's individual quality, not by overall tactical superiority. This means Bac Ninh is dependent on an uncontrollable factor — the form of a single player. Long An also clearly revealed a weakness in defending set pieces, particularly corners — something First Division opponents will thoroughly exploit. On September 20, Bac Ninh Province was officially upgraded to a centrally-governed city. Bac Ninh Club's victory over Long An occurred right before this historic moment, turning the match into a gift for local fans. However, behind the short-term joy are long-term challenges that both teams must face. Bac Ninh has momentum but faces a real test as the schedule toughens. Long An needs to regain confidence before the season becomes unrecoverable. The key question is whether Bac Ninh can maintain this strong form or will be exposed when facing stronger opponents. Brenner's hat-trick is an undeniable highlight, but it also exposed a reality: Bac Ninh is too dependent on one individual. Long An revealed a weakness in defending set pieces — something that will affect their position in the First Division this season. The upgrade of Bac Ninh Province to a centrally-governed city may bring new resources to the club, but the most important question remains: Can this team build a diverse attacking system instead of placing all scoring responsibility on one person?