North Central Derby: Heated from the duels

(Baonghean.vn) - The match between SLNA and FLC Thanh Hoa will be an opportunity for fans of both teams to show off their strength. The heat from the stands will spread to the field, when witnessing the fierce and extremely attractive competitions between the positions on the field. Here are the notable duels in the upcoming North Central derby.

Ngoc Hai - Omar

The confrontation between these two players promises to be extremely attractive and fierce. In recent matches, Ngoc Hai has played quite well in the center of the Nghe An team's defense. The two consecutive victories recently against HAGL and Long An were largely due to the player born in 1993.

Observing Ngoc Hai's recent performances, it seems that this central defender has somewhat regained his best form. His brave saves, smart reading of situations, and ability to command the defense are quite good, true to the nickname Hai "Ramos".

Que Ngoc Hai will be one of the notable players on the field.

On the other side of the battle line is striker Omar of the Thanh team. This is truly the most dangerous killer in V.League this year. Up to the 19th round, the foreign player from Senegal ranked 3rd in the list of bombers with 11 goals (6/11 were opening goals, 4/11 were from penalties). Omar's playing style is not much different from players from Africa, with the ability to sweep and press without criticism.

Besides, he also proved himself to be a striker with a very good acting ability, the penalty in the first leg match against SLNA is a clear proof. In a collision very far from the 16m50 line, this player tried to rush into the penalty area to earn a penalty.

Against a formidable striker like Omar, SLNA’s defense needs a top-class center-back like Ngoc Hai to lock down. In the first leg, the Vietnam national team’s center-back was arranged by coach Ngo Quang Truong to play in the central midfield position, so there were not many notable disputes between Ngoc Hai and Omar. It is very likely that whoever is better in this one-on-one battle will have a favorable result for their team.

Hoang Thinh - Ngoc Toan

The news that the midfielder born in 1992 has joined the "neighbor" FLC Thanh Hoa has made Nghe An fans worried about the midfield of coach Ngo Quang Truong's team. In the situation where captain Nguyen Quang Tinh also packed up and left Vinh city (to XSKT Can Tho), all the burden in the midfield will depend on the inexperienced shoulders of Ngoc Toan and Dau Thanh Phong, with Khac Ngoc being quite weak in the powerful fights.

Hoang Thinh while wearing SLNA shirt.

Not long after arriving in Thanh Hoa, Hoang Thinh has become the trump card of Technical Director Le Thuy Hai. He is one of the players who helps FLC Thanh Hoa continuously stand in the ranks of teams competing for the championship of the most prestigious tournament in Vietnam. Up to this point, the former SLNA player has scored 4 goals in V.League 2016. Among those goals, the most notable is the long-range shot that tore through goalkeeper Nguyen Manh's net in the first leg match of the two teams at Thanh Hoa Stadium. His brave playing style and shots from the penalty area have made Hoang Thinh's brand in SLNA's shirt. If coach Ngo Quang Truong cannot find a way to control the number 7 of the Thanh team, the price to pay will be extremely high.

Looking at the central midfielders that Mr. Truong has in hand, the name Vo Ngoc Toan is the face that brings the most trust. In terms of physical strength and passion, the player from Quynh Luu is not inferior to his old teammate. Moreover, Ngoc Toan not only knows how to play football with strength, he also plays quite intelligently in reading situations to cover for his teammates. In SLNA's away match at Long An Stadium in the 19th round, Ngoc Toan did not play because he received a red card in the previous match with HAGL.

Thus, Ngoc Toan will have better physical strength after a week of rest, while Hoang Thinh will only return after a period of struggling with the injury he suffered. The duel between the two former teammates will decide which team will gain the upper hand in the midfield.

Ho Tuan Tai - Le Thanh Binh

It would not be an exaggeration to say that these are the two best young strikers in V.League 2016. Although they often have to compete with foreign players in the squad, both Tuan Tai and Thanh Binh still prove their inherent abilities. In the 19th round that just took place, these two young strikers each scored a goal. In the context that V.League teams often favor foreign strikers, the fact that Tuan Tai and Thanh Binh are on the field, and even more so, scoring goals, is what makes domestic football fans feel extremely excited.

Ho Tuan Tai is on the way to regaining his form.

Although they are on opposite sides of the battle line, these two players will have an equally exciting competition. More than a week ago, exactly after the victory over XSKT.CT, Mr. Le Thuy Hai recommended Thanh Binh for the position of center forward in the Vietnam National Team. And not long after that, with the goal against Long An, many Nghe An fans also recommended Tuan Tai for a position in the national team's attack. Without anyone telling them, both Tuan Tai and Thanh Binh will try to prove that they are the best young center forwards in Vietnamese football today.

Therefore, the North Central derby between SLNA and FLC Thanh Hoa at Vinh Stadium on August 13 is not only a competition between two fated neighbors. In a match that is predicted to be extremely fierce, there cannot be a lack of fiery clashes in every position on the field.

Thanh Hung