Red alert for Hong Linh, Ha Tinh.

Currently, after 12 rounds, Hong Linh Ha Tinh is temporarily ranked 10th in the standings. With 11 points, they are 4 points behind the team in 9th place - Binh Duong - and the same number of points ahead of the team at the bottom - Saigon FC. This is not a safe margin as the V.League 2022 season is not yet halfway through.

Thus, the final round of the first half of the season has begun.V. League 2022Regardless of the outcome, Hong Linh Ha Tinh will not improve their position. However, if they defeat their "fellow sufferers" - Nam Dinh - at 6 PM on August 19th at Ha Tinh Stadium, coach Nguyen Thanh Cong's team will increase their points total compared to their opponent.

The Hong Linh Ha Tinh players (in pink shirts) during their 1-2 defeat against Hanoi FC. Photo: Xuan Thuy

Unfortunately, before this match, Hong Linh Ha Tinh lacked many of the elements necessary for victory. Besides the home advantage, the team from Nui Hong could only rely on the tactical prowess of coach Nguyen Thanh Cong and the tenacious fighting spirit of the players. Simply put, Hong Linh Ha Tinh was like "a miniature hospital."

Roughly speaking, there are nearly 10 players currently sidelined due to injury, equivalent to the size of an entire squad. Significantly, the injury list includes key players such as Tran Phi Son, Dinh Thanh Trung, Nguyen Xuan Hung, and Giang Tran Quach Tan... Clearly, the pressure on coach Nguyen Thanh Cong is considerable.

Faced with the team's dire situation, the 1977-born strategist has had no choice but to make do with what he has to offer in order to have enough players for each match recently. That's why both new signings, Nguyen Sy Nam and Dinh Van Hung, had to play in the match against Dong A Thanh Hoa, even though they hadn't had time to familiarize themselves with their new team. This clearly shows how difficult the personnel problem is for Hong Linh Ha Tinh.

Hong Linh Ha Tinh's three consecutive defeats against Hanoi FC (1-2), Saigon FC (3-4), and Dong A Thanh Hoa (0-2) are the inevitable consequence of depleted squads. The burden on coach Nguyen Thanh Cong's shoulders is increasing day by day. It's worth remembering that even before the wave of injuries, Hong Linh Ha Tinh's squad quality was among the lowest in V.League 2022.

The reason why the Nui Hong team is still in a relatively safe position is because they have coach Nguyen Thanh Cong, a strategist who is very good at making the most of what they have.

If the squad continues to suffer serious injuries, the possibility of Hong Linh Ha Tinh being overtaken in the standings is entirely plausible at any time. The defeats against Hanoi FC, Saigon FC, and Dong A Thanh Hoa serve as a warning to Coach Nguyen Thanh Cong and his team...