The difference in the North Central derby

Although not stronger, Dong A Thanh Hoa is always a tough opponent for the Nghe team regardless of playing away or at home. The biggest difference of the match is that assistant Svetislav Tanasijevic has many quality foreign players such as Ze Paulo, Gustavo Costa Balotelli and central defender Gustavo Santos. In the 4-2-3-1 formation, central midfielder Ze Paulo has scored 3 goals, along with Doan Ngoc Tan, who controls the midfield well.

Host Dong A Thanh Hoa won 2-0 in the North Central derby. Photo SFC

Quality of foreign soldiers

In contrast to his heavy body, slow movement and lack of physical strength, Oseni sat on the bench. Coach Nguyen Huy Hoang arranged Van Duc to play on the right wing in the attack with Olaha, new player Mario continued to be trusted to play in midfield. The fact that Oseni has not scored in 7 matches and Olaha is still clumsy in both the first ball control and shooting stages shows that if the foreign player's form is not improved, Song Lam Nghe An's goal of finishing in the Top 3 will be difficult to achieve. Oseni's goal is that Olaha must score at least 5 goals in V.League 2022 to help the Vinh Stadium team finish in the Top 3 at the end of the season.

Letting Zé Paulo score a goal from a free kick from about 20m was a question for the Nghe An team's coaching staff when practicing the away team's exercises. Song Lam Nghe An players jumped up to block the ball while the Brazilian player shot low, there was no one to block the ball. When using 2 foreign players Oseni and Olaha, the Nghe An team almost only used long, high passes, while center back Gustavo Santos, who used to play for Song Lam Nghe An, was 1.97m tall.

Center back Gustavo Santos played very effectively in marking and blocking. The strikers Phan Van Duc, Olaha and Oseni of Song Lam Nghe An did not have many favorable opportunities to finish. It was clear that Nguyen Huy Hoang's tactics in this match were not suitable and assistant Svetislav Tanasijevic easily solved it.

Rotate the pillars

Without proper rotation, Song Lam Nghe An's older players will run out of battery, easily leading to injury. Photo: SFC

This was the match where the main players Xuan Manh and Van Duc did not play at their best. Van Duc showed signs of "losing his battery" in the last few matches, while Xuan Manh passed the ball wrongly, causing Song Lam Nghe An to lose the second goal in a "3 vs 1" counter-attack. Playing on the right wing, Van Duc could not show his strengths, playing too far from the opponent's goal, and lacking the strength to stretch when dribbling.

This is an important stage of the season, captain Que Ngoc Hai has also significantly reduced his physical strength, lying on the field many times due to fouls by the opponent. In the upcoming matches, if there is no precise rotation, the older players of Song Lam Nghe An will "run out of battery", easily leading to injury.

Obviously, with the current situation of 9 points behind the top team, Song Lam Nghe An's championship goal is far away. But to get into the top 3, coach Nguyen Huy Hoang is also facing fierce competition from his seniors Duc Thang (Binh Dinh), Chu Dinh Nghiem (Hai Phong), Bae Ji-won (Viettel), Kiatisak (Hoang Anh Gia Lai).