The V.League club is making waves by possessing Vietnam's national team's top 'fixed weapon'.

Ninh Bình Club currently boasts two of Vietnam's national team's leading "dead-ball specialists," Truong Tien Anh and Nguyen Hoang Duc, key factors in turning corner situations into extremely dangerous weapons under coach Kim Sang Sik.

Most recently, in Vietnam's 3-1 victory over Malaysia in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers, Duy Manh's header to open the scoring originated from Truong Tien Anh's precise corner kick. This marks the fourth time the 1999-born player has provided an assist from a corner spot for the national team under the Korean coach's reign.

According to statistics, the Vietnam national team has scored a total of 8 goals from corners under coach Kim Sang Sik, and alone Truong Tien Anh contributed as many as 4 assists, accounting for 50% of the total goals. Meanwhile, Hoang Duc also has 2 assists from similar situations, highlighting the crucial role of this duo in set-piece plays.

Their impact is not limited to the national team level; it is also clearly evident in their performances for Ninh Bình Club. Hoang Duc alone has 3 assists in the V.League, while Tien Anh consistently creates difference with his troublesome crosses.

After the match against Malaysia, Truong Tien Anh immediately became a sensation among Vietnamese fans. Tien Anh, standing at 1.68m, is dubbed the "crossing machine" due to his ability to deliver balls with high accuracy. Developed from The Cong Viettel, where he won the V.League 2024 championship, this player had 127 professional matches before transferring to Ninh Bình and quickly securing a starting position. Specifically in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers, Tien Anh has totaled 6 assists, with 4 coming from corners and 2 from live-ball situations.

At the national team level, Tien Anh has made 18 appearances since being called up in 2023 and was part of the squad that won the 2024 ASEAN Cup. His versatility in playing as a right defender or right midfielder makes him a crucial link in coach Kim Sang Sik's tactical system.

Under the Korean strategist, Vietnam's teams (including U23) have scored up to 15 goals from corners in 38 official matches. The national team alone has 8 goals in 21 matches, while the U23 contributed 7 goals. This is an impressive figure, demonstrating the clear effectiveness of dead-ball strategies.

With the possession of two quality passers like Tien Anh and Hoang Duc, Ninh Bình can fully maximize set-piece situations to gain advantages in the V.League. If combined with players possessing good aerial ability, the ancient capital's team could become the "Arsenal version" of Vietnamese football, a collective most dangerous from corner kicks.