East Asia Thanh Hoa: Unpredictable unknowns

Every time the season enters the decisive stage, many fans mentionEast Asia Thanh Hoaas an unpredictable variable of V.League.

Nghe An football fans certainly still cannot forget the shock at the "fire pan" Vinh stadium last season. When Song Lam Nghe An was struggling to escape the red light group, they expected a lot from the home field advantage and hoped to win at least 1 point against Dong A Thanh Hoa - a team that had run out of goals. But everything collapsed before the fierce and disciplined playing style of the Thanh team.

The only goal conceded left Song Lam Nghe An empty-handed at home, falling freely into the danger zone. At that time, many people felt shocked, even angry at the "disrespect" of Thanh Hoa players. However, for those who understand football, that is the bravery - even the identity - that this team has built and been loyal to for many years.

That "coldness" did not stop at Vinh Stadium. In the final round of last season, Dong A Thanh Hoa made another team "fall" - this time it was Hong Linh Ha Tinh. Despite playing away and no longer having any motivation, Thanh Hoa still played fairly, holding the home team to a draw in a tense match. It was that draw that pushed Hong Linh Ha Tinh down to a position of having to play a life-or-death play-off. More specifically, it wasLam River Nghe An– the team that was once “pushed down the cliff” by Thanh Hoa – benefited from the situation to slip through the narrow door and stay in the league in a spectacular way.

The story of the “cold sword” named Dong A Thanh Hoa continues to be mentioned in this year’s season. When the relegation race is reaching its fiercest stage, Quy Nhon Binh Dinh marched to Thanh Hoa stadium with the goal of gaining points to keep their hope of survival alive. But once again, they encountered a “not easy” Thanh Hoa.

If it weren't for Vu Minh Tuan's goal in the final minutes, the team from the land of Vo would have left Thanh Hoa empty-handed. The draw did not help Quy Nhon Binh Dinh improve much on the rankings as they are still at the bottom with 21 points after 23 matches.

The question is: Why do Dong A Thanh Hoa, in a situation where they no longer have any goals, still play aggressive football, causing trouble for teams that are hungry for points? The answer probably lies in the style and philosophy of football that they have pursued for many years.

Many fans say that in V.League, only Thanh Hoa has “no factions”. They do not respect anyone, do not calculate for anyone, and do not give up for the benefit of any team. They go to the field to fight, even though there is no title ahead, no specific goal. It is this “greenness”, fairness and a bit of “rebellion” that has created a very unique identity – an identity that makes many neutral fans feel loved, and opponents feel bored.

Don’t forget that it was this spirit of fighting with all your might and never giving up that helped Dong A Thanh Hoa win the National Cup twice in the last two seasons. A title that many “big guys” are still desperately searching for. That success did not come from luck, but was the result of stability, organization and an uncompromising fighting spirit.

For a team that has been considered an "underdog" for many years, the strong rise of Dong A Thanh Hoa is remarkable. They may not be a candidate for the V.League championship, but they are always a "key point" that all opponents must be wary of, especially at the end of the season.

In the colorful picture ofV.League, where sometimes behind-the-scenes calculations or "roundabout" on the field still exist, Dong A Thanh Hoa stands out as a cold color - clear, fair, and... annoying until the last minute./.