JapanCong Phuong was named in the starting lineup for Yokohama FC’s match against Fagiano Okayama in the second round of J-League Levain Cup 2024, this afternoon, April 24.
Cong Phuong is positioned as an attacking midfielder in Yokohama FC’s 3-4-2-1 formation. This is the first starting match of the striker born in 1995 since joining the Japanese club in early 2023.
The match also marked the second time Cong Phuong played in an official match for Yokohama, after 386 days – since the 2-3 loss to Nagoya Grampus on April 5, also in the J-League Cup. In that match, Cong Phuong could only enter the field from the second half stoppage time and had about two minutes on the field.
Cong Phuong (right) disputes with midfielder Nduka Boniface at training. Image: HM
Cong Phuong starting against Fagiano Okayama is in the coaching staff’s calculations. According to coach Shuhei Yomoda, the J-League Cup is an opportunity for players who have had little chance to compete in recent times. “I hope they take advantage of the opportunity to become part of the collective,” he told Tagrma. “We want to develop young players, while raising the standard of reserve players.”
Previously, head coach Yokohama had a private discussion with Cong Phuong before the training session on April 18. “The coach talked about my position and it would be better to follow his instructions,” Cong Phuong said in an interview with Tagrma. “If I get to play, I will try my best to help the team win.”
Cong Phuong wears shirt number 28, on Yokohama’s competition registration list.
Cong Phuong’s preferred playing position is wing striker or attacking midfielder. But he also played central midfielder at HAGL in 2021 – coach Kiatisuk’s first season in charge. Meanwhile, coach Shuhei Yomoda also asked Cong Phuong to play as a defensive midfielder or box-to-box. Phuong affirmed that there is no problem if he has to play in this position because he understands the job, but he also did not hide his desire to play in the attack.
“One of my strengths is dribbling, scoring goals and creating assists,” Phuong said. “It will be easier for me to kick and I can move to open up space for my teammates.”
Cong Phuong discussed with coach Shuhei Yomoda at Yokohama FC’s training session on April 18. Image: HM
In the 2024 season, Yokohama FC is competing in J-League 2 after not playing well in J-League 1 2023 and having to be relegated. After 11 rounds, Cong Phuong has not been registered on the list to compete in any match.
Yokohama FC aims to return to J-League 1 next season. Currently, the team ranks fourth in J-League 2 with 18 points, six points behind second place team V-Varen Nagasaki. According to the rules, the champion and runner-up team of J-League 2 will win official promotion tickets. The teams ranked third to sixth will be divided into play-off pairs to compete for the remaining ticket.
Cong Phuong is in his second season at Yokohama FC but has not been able to break into the main team. His contract with the club lasts until the end of the 2026 season.
Cong Phuong is the second Vietnamese player playing abroad at this time, next to Huynh Nhu of Lank FC in the Portuguese national women’s football championship. Previously, the 29-year-old striker played for foreign teams such as Mito Hollyhock (Japan) in 2016, Incheon United (Korea) in 2019 and Saint Truiden (Belgium) in the 2019-2020 season. But all of them left no mark.
Hieu Luong
