Song Lam Nghe An youth team and their first impressions in V-League

These are certainly the key factors to ensure SLNA's ability to return to the Top 3 of V-League after a period of being on the verge of relegation. But it would be incomplete and objective to forget a remarkable new feature ofSLNAThis season, it is boldly trusting young players, something that was previously only done in small steps, without leaving any clear and significant mark.

The most notable example is in the defense. When captain Van Khanh only played the entire first match away at B.Binh Duong and 15 minutes of the second match against T.Binh Dinh at Vinh Stadium, he was injured and had to leave the field. Coach Huy Hoang had to send a young player to replace him. That was center-back Ho Khac Luong, who was previously called up to join the U23 Vietnam team to compete in the U23 Southeast Asian tournament in Cambodia and this was the first time he was sent onto the field quite early in a V-League match.

Participating in this tournament, SLNA has all the pillars such as Que Ngoc Hai, Phan Van Duc, Xuan Manh, Oseni, Olaha... Especially, there is the return of captain Hoang Van Khanh, who has just recovered after a long period of injury. Photo courtesy of Chung Nguyen

Thus, SLNA's defense now has two young players, Ba Sang and Khac Luong. This unexpected test of fire could put SLNA in a passive position and lose later, but it is extremely important for Khac Luong as well as Ba Sang. Thanks to "living" in the tense atmosphere of a V-League match, the above young players have gradually rubbed shoulders, gotten acquainted, and joined the seniors in that match and for a long time after that.

That extremely important “first time” of the young SLNA players is also the story of Van Bach starting for 85 minutes in the match against HAGL, Xuan Tien starting for 65 minutes in the match against Ho Chi Minh City recently. These are 2 U19 players who have just been called up to the SLNA first team. The fact that they were continuously put into the starting lineup very early in the most important matches in the V-League shows the boldness and trust in the young talents ofCoach Huy HoangAnd they themselves have repaid that trust with an above-average performance, which is commendable for both teachers and students.

Remember, in both matches where these two young players were in the starting lineup, SLNA won by 2 goals to nil, in which the match against Ho Chi Minh City Club, the Vinh team played with one less player from the end of the first half but still increased the gap from 1 to 2 goals and steadfastly maintained that valuable achievement. Van Bach was not overwhelmed by the famous midfielders Tuan Anh-Xuan Truong and the national team stars at HAGL. On the contrary, his youth and enthusiasm allowed Van Bach to fight against players who were very good at technique and teamwork. Meanwhile, Xuan Tien was also "older than his age" in a lovely way when he dealt the cards neatly in all situations, coordinating well with the two senior "national team players" Van Duc and Xuan Manh to control the midfield of the home team.

SLNA Club in a training session. Photo courtesy of Duc Anh

Not the “first time”, but the young player who played the full 90 minutes for SLNA was left-back Sy Hoang in the match against Ho Chi Minh City in round 6 of the V-League. This player was a member of the U23 Vietnam team, although he was not named in the 31st SEA Games, he was absolutely trusted when he returned to SLNA. In the above match, Sy Hoang and Dinh Hoang created a formidable attacking full-back duo for SLNA. Dinh Hoang was the one who crossed the ball to help Olaha open the score, and Sy Hoang was the one who raised the score to 2-0 a few minutes after the home team played with only 10 men.

After playing with one less player, Sy Hoang retreated to play as his natural left-back and, together with his teammates, protected goalkeeper Van Hoang's net well. Perhaps the opponent, with the advantage of one more player, deliberately exploited the position of this slim, thin left-back, but the fact that he was able to play the full 90 minutes proved that there was no mistake here, and that this seemingly weak man was not out of breath. Remember, Xuan Tien was given a break from the 65th minute, after which Olaha, Van Duc, and Ba Sang all left the field one after another because they had "burned" out all their energy for the match.

There are many young players who have been trusted in recent matches and they have shown results at different levels such as Xuan Binh, Van Cuong, Manh Quynh... It is worth mentioning that after Van Khanh or Ojong Mark return, it is likely that the opportunities for the above young talents to enter the field will not be many, although coach Huy Hoang always has open doors in all calculations.

Hopefully, whenever an opportunity comes to someone, that person must immediately seize it and demonstrate the highest level of ability and dedication like Khac Luong, Sy Hoang, Van Bach, Xuan Tien... have done. Let's prove in reality that, maybe in U23 Vietnam or somewhere else, young talents of SLNA are being overshadowed by factors from Hanoi FC, from Viettel... but every time they return to SLNA, they are like "fish in water", freely frolicking and ready to do miracles, not inferior to anyone?