Football in Thanh Hoa and Nghe An provinces is progressing together.
(Baonghean.vn) - It seems that the two coaches named Duc Thang, leading FLC Thanh Hoa and SLNA respectively, have found their winning streak in V-League 2018. They both have three consecutive wins and have significantly improved their positions in the standings.
Surprisingly, while SLNA was performing poorly, their neighbors weren't doing much better. And now, they are the only two teams with three consecutive wins in the V-League, showing increasingly impressive performances.
Both Mr. Thang and Mr. Thang won.
After a crucial victory against the tough opponent Hai Phong, SLNA seized the opportunity to play against B.Binh Duong at Vinh Stadium, and they didn't miss the chance to earn all three points. Riding on this positive momentum, SLNA continued their winning streak by defeating visiting team XSKT.Can Tho, becoming, along with FLC Thanh Hoa, the team with the best results in the second half of the season.
Of the three consecutive wins at Vinh Stadium against Hai Phong, Binh Duong, and XSKT Can Tho, the victory against the team from the port city is considered the most impressive. This is an opponent that SLNA has beaten at Vinh Stadium for the past three years; broadly speaking, SLNA has lost 5 and drawn 2 when facing Coach Truong Viet Hoang's team.
 |
| Midfielder Ngo Xuan Toan has scored two goals in SLNA's last three matches. (Photo: Duc Anh) |
Given that SLNA had yet to win at Vinh Stadium since the start of the season, scoring a goal to secure three points was considered a "turning point" for the season. Their wealth of experience and fighting spirit were the strengths that helped the Nghe An team overcome the difficult moments of the season.
Unlike the team from Nghe An province, FLC Thanh Hoa, once a title contender, has been in freefall. Duc Thang joined FLC Thanh Hoa in round 7, but it wasn't until round 13 – after a complete squad overhaul – that he finally had reason to smile. While bringing an assistant coach to Thanh Hoa didn't yield immediate results, the decision to drop four players (later reduced to three) and bring in Huu Dung from Can Tho proved effective.
As those familiar with Nghe An football have pointed out, the biggest problem for the team is the turmoil in the locker room. When current and former national team players are not on the same page, it's easy to understand why Thanh Hoa football is in freefall.
Midfielders Hoang Thinh and Huu Dung, upon returning to their hometown team, revitalized FLC Thanh Hoa's midfield. Like SLNA, the Thanh Hoa team boldly played without foreign players, leaving Ofere out and relying solely on foreign player Pape Omar.
Compared to the team from Nghe An, Thanh Hoa's opponents were somewhat tougher, with one away win each against SHB Da Nang, SXKT Can Tho (away), and B. Binh Duong. FLC Thanh Hoa has returned to 5th place and is only 3 points behind second-placed Quang Nam - a gap that is not too difficult for them to close. A top 3 finish is now within reach for coach Duc Thang.
Extend the winning streak.
It seems FLC Thanh Hóa will face more difficulties, as their schedule includes matches against Hải Phòng (home) and SHB Đà Nẵng (away), while SLNA will play against Sài Gòn (home) and Hải Phòng (away).
 |
| Ngo Hoang Thinh is currently the conductor of FLC Thanh Hoa. Photo: Internet |
In terms of squad depth, FLC Thanh Hoa is considered stronger, with foreign player Pape Omar being more outstanding than Olaha. After some initial setbacks upon their return to the competition, Thanh Hoa football is still considered a force in the V-League.
SLNA secured three victories, but all were hard-fought due to their "handicap" style of play, and their main goalscorer, Van Duc, was recovering from injury. The attacking pressure from the Nghe An team wasn't strong enough; their goals came more from the brilliance of their domestic players than from a dominant performance.
With the addition of Van Binh from FLC Thanh Hoa, Van Duc's return to training, and the hope placed in "foreign player X," coach Duc Thang will have more resources to build a strong team in the final stages of the season. According to calculations, they need at least three more wins before they can rest easy and plan for next season.
For now, SLNA must focus on winning the match against Saigon. They lost to Saigon in the first leg, but their current form is very inconsistent. Besides securing three points, they also need to ensure that Xuan Manh, Tuan Tai, and Van Khanh don't receive any more yellow cards if they want to be available to play at Lach Tray Stadium.
