Ho Chi Minh City FC vs. Song Lam Nghe An FC: Reunion with an old friend.

If we had to choose, who is the best SLNA player to have performed for the Nghe An team over the past three seasons? It wouldn't be goalkeeper Nguyen Manh or captain Ngoc Hai, but Phi Son – the player who left Vinh Stadium at the end of last season. Now, SLNA fans will meet their former player again at Thong Nhat Stadium with mixed emotions.

Irony

SLNA is having its worst start in history, with only one point from their two home games. In terms of gameplay, they haven't played terribly, but their attack has failed to convert chances, preventing them from securing a victory.

Phi Son celebrates with his senior teammate Au Van Hoan after scoring a goal against S. Khanh Hoa. Photo: Internet

Despite having the most favorable schedule in V-League 2018, playing their first two matches at Vinh Stadium, they are now only ahead of Nam Dinh and Saigon FC on goal difference. The team boasts four national team players, including Khac Ngoc, who was named Asia's best player in February, yet they only have one point after three matches.

Meanwhile, despite playing in midfield, Phi Son led the attack in the match against S. Khanh Hoa because foreign strikers Gustavo and Gonzalo were unavailable. With two goals in two matches and six points for his newly joined team, Phi Son is having a dream start with Ho Chi Minh City FC.

Ironically, if Phi Son continues to shine in the rescheduled match at Thong Nhat Stadium, it means SLNA will be pushed to the bottom of the league table. Even more ironically, due to a lack of funds, SLNA had to let Phi Son go and spend money to bring Osmar in. And people are about to witness this paradox again at Thong Nhat Stadium: Osmar sits out while Phi Son scores against his former team (?!).

Nghe An Derby

Along with FLC Thanh Hoa, Ho Chi Minh City FC is another team that has been "Nghe An-ized". Including Chairman Vinh sitting in the stands, in the match against S. Khanh Hoa, 7 out of 8 players in Ho Chi Minh City FC's starting lineup were from Nghe An. These players from Nghe An are playing a crucial role in Chairman Vinh's second season, with 3 defenders, 1 midfielder, and 2 forwards, including Phi Son.

Coach Mihail was very successful in deploying three midfielders from Nghe An: Trong Hoang, Hoang Thinh, and Van Binh to implement the tactic of "using people from Nghe An to counter people from Nghe An," so now people are waiting to see what Coach Miura will do in the match against SLNA.

Dinh Luat is a veteran defender of Ho Chi Minh City FC. Photo: An Thanh

Upon joining the team at Thong Nhat Stadium, Phi Son's physical fitness improved significantly. At the end of the match against S. Khanh Hoa, the number 10 even collided heavily with Zarour, causing him to fall. Phi Son confided: "Seeing Coach Miura, at his age, still doing 40 laps around Thong Nhat Stadium at the end of each training session, we players couldn't help but train hard."

When he played for SLNA, Phi Son was the most "unconventional" player on the team. Now, under the guidance of his senior teammate Cong Vinh, his unconventionality has increased exponentially. Facing the S. Khanh Hoa defense, with names like Zarour, Dinh Loi, and Trung Hieu forming a wall in front of Tuan Manh's goal, Phi Son mainly used feints, fell to the ground, and waited for the referee Tran Dinh Thinh's whistle.

If the foreign players are still unable to play, Phi Son remains key for Coach Miura to find victory. Que Ngoc Hai, Van Khanh, and the SLNA players are all familiar with Phi Son, and vice versa.

Regardless of the outcome at Thong Nhat Stadium, Phi Son will still earn the respect of Nghe An fans. However, this number 10 needs to prove himself if he wants a place in the national team squad.