V.League 2023 Relegation Battle: Awaiting Honesty and Fair Play

Song Lam Nghe An vs. Hoang Anh Gia Lai: History favors the home team.

At Vinh Stadium,Lam River, Nghe AnHoang Anh Gia Lai faces a match that promises to be highly competitive, as both teams have already secured their safety from relegation this season. In terms of personnel, Hoang Anh Gia Lai will be without the services of three young stars, Nguyen Quoc Viet, Nguyen Duc Viet, and Nguyen Van Trieu, as they have joined the Vietnam U23 team for training. Additionally, Thanh Nhan and Dung Quang Nho will be absent from the away match in Vinh as both have accumulated three yellow cards and will be suspended for this game.

Song Lam Nghe An also showed determination in this match by keeping two national team players, Dinh Xuan Tien and Tran Nam Hai, with the club to fight until the final match. Although some players are still unavailable due to injury, such as Tran Dinh Hoang, Ho Van Cuong, and Ho Sy Sam, and goalkeeper Van Viet has joined the Vietnam U23 team, the Nghe An team still has quality players like Van Hoang, Trong Hoang, and other young players eager to prove themselves.

A victory is within reach for Song Lam Nghe An, given their relaxed mindset and the fact that Hoang Anh Gia Lai has consistently lost to them when playing away at Vinh Stadium over the past 10 years. In the first leg, Song Lam Nghe An also secured a convincing 3-1 win. It is predicted that Coach Phan Nhu Thuat's team will field their strongest lineup and give opportunities to young players to showcase their talents, thus concluding a fruitful season.

Which team will be relegated?

Of the three matches, the Khánh Hòa - SHB Đà Nẵng and TP. Hồ Chí Minh - B. Bình Dương matches are attracting the most attention. The likelihood of relegation for the team from the Hàn River is very high, not only because of the unfavorable result from the TP. Hồ Chí Minh - Becamex Bình Dương match, but also because Khánh Hòa is a very difficult team to play against, especially when coach Võ Đình Tân's team plays at home. According to the first scenario, SHB Đà Nẵng will be relegated without question if coach Nguyễn Minh Đức's team loses at the 19/8 Nha Trang stadium, regardless of the result of the other match. This is very likely to happen, as the Đà Nẵng players' morale has been very low since their match against Sông Lam Nghệ An.

According to the second scenario, SHB Da Nang plays well and wins against Khanh Hoa. Theoretically, SHB Da Nang still has a chance to avoid relegation, but the team from the Han River has lost control of their own destiny. However, if the match between Ho Chi Minh City and Becamex Binh Duong ends in a draw, all of Da Nang's efforts will be in vain.

In the third scenario, their chances of avoiding relegation remain, provided they win convincingly against Khánh Hòa, and simultaneously secure a win or loss for the match between TP. Hồ Chí Minh and B. Bình Dương. In that case, either TP. Hồ Chí Minh or Becamex Bình Dương would be relegated, as they would have the same 14 points as SHB Đà Nẵng but a worse goal difference.

That's the theory, but in reality, it's extremely difficult. I think the VFF, VPF, and the league organizers should pay special attention to the match between Ho Chi Minh City and Becamex Binh Duong. This will be a very sensitive match in the V.League 2023 relegation battle, and the results of these matches will greatly impact the confidence of Vietnamese fans in the national championship. Will the players of both Ho Chi Minh City and Binh Duong uphold honesty and fair play?

The dissolution of the Nam Dinh Supporters' Club due to their controversial match against Hanoi Police is just the first warning sign regarding the attitude of football teams. If SHB Da Nang is relegated after losing to Khanh Hoa, there would be little debate. However, if Ho Chi Minh City and Becamex Binh Duong deliberately hold each other to a draw, football organizers need to take concrete action to make the 2023 V.League healthier and regain the trust of fans nationwide.