Injury storm hits Song Lam Nghe An

The race to avoid relegation this season is more intense than ever. Currently sitting 12th in the table after 20 rounds,Lam River, Nghe AnThey are only 3 points ahead of second-to-last Binh Dinh, having played one more match. The gap with Da Nang, currently ranked 14th, is also only 5 points after the team from the Han River unexpectedly defeated Thanh Hoa 1-0. In this context, the successive injuries to key players are a major blow to the Nghe An team's fight for survival in the league.

Since the beginning of the season, left-back Bui Thanh Duc has been sidelined for an extended period due to a serious injury. This loss has left Song Lam Nghe An's left flank vulnerable and constantly facing the risk of being short of players.

However, the difficulties didn't stop there. Recently, in the match against The Cong Viettel in round 20, two more names joined the list of injured players: defender Vuong Van Huy and midfielder Ngo Van Luong.

Vuong Van Huy, a left-back born in 2001, suffered an ankle injury after a strong collision. According to doctors, he will need at least two weeks to recover. Van Huy's absence is a significant loss for Song Lam Nghe An. The player from Yen Thanh is a tenacious defender, unafraid of physical contact, with excellent tracking abilities and consistently seamless transitions between attack and defense. To date, Van Huy has played 20 matches this season – one of the team's two best records. His stability and excellent physical condition provide a solid "shield" on the left flank, something Song Lam Nghe An will find very difficult to replace during this crucial period.

Equally important, Ngo Van Luong, a left midfielder currently in excellent form, will also be sidelined for at least two weeks. Luong's injury resulted from a strong collision with a The Cong Viettel player. Luong's aggressiveness and ability to create breakthroughs have greatly benefited Song Lam Nghe An in tense matches. As proof, he scored a beautiful goal in the clash against Quang Nam in round 19.

Prior to this, after round 19, Song Lam Nghe An received further bad news when their captain and central defender, Hoang Van Khanh, suffered an ankle injury during a training session. The player wearing jersey number 55, considered the "heart" of Song Lam Nghe An's defense, was unable to participate in the crucial match and is expected to be absent until at least round 23, when the Nghe An team will face Hong Linh Ha Tinh.

Van Khanh's absence deprives Song Lam Nghe An's defense of a reliable anchor. Furthermore, without the 1995-born center-back, the Vinh-based team's defense will lack a commanding voice and the ability to control the tempo of the game. The experience and battlefield prowess of this veteran center-back have always been a pillar of support for the younger players of the Nghe An team, especially during tense moments on the field.

Amidst a series of bad news, Song Lam Nghe An finally received a glimmer of hope. Center-back Zaracho was able to resume light training during the afternoon session on April 27th. If everything goes smoothly, Zaracho will likely be fit enough to play in the away match against Hai Phong at Lach Tray Stadium. Zaracho's return will be a major boost for Song Lam Nghe An's defense, especially given the severe shortage of players.

However, the fact that Zaracho has only been training lightly and may not yet be in his best physical condition means the coaching staff must carefully consider the risk of using him.

For the remainder of the season, Song Lam Nghe An will face very strong opponents. Their first challenge is a difficult away match at Lach Tray Stadium against Hai Phong, a team that always plays with great intensity at home. After that, Song Lam Nghe An will successively face teams currently in good form such as Hanoi FC and Hong Linh Ha Tinh.

With a severely depleted squad, coach Phan Như Thuật and his colleagues are facing a daunting challenge: how to secure points in the crucial upcoming rounds.

It's difficult to find a convincing explanation, but perhaps only if the players from Nghe An maintain their confidence, demonstrate unwavering determination, and employ a sound strategy from the coaching staff, can Song Lam Nghe An overcome the challenges they face this season.