V.League 2023 relegation race: Waiting for honesty and fair play

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

On Vinh Stadium,Lam River Nghe Anmeet Hoang Anh Gia Lai in a match that promises to be full of dedication, because both are safe this season. In terms of force, Hoang Anh Gia Lai will not have the service of the young star trio Nguyen Quoc Viet, Nguyen Duc Viet and Nguyen Van Trieu, because they have joined the U23 Vietnam team early. Besides, Thanh Nhan and Dung Quang Nho will not be present in the away match at Vinh Stadium because both have received 3 yellow cards and will be suspended for this match.

Song Lam Nghe An also showed their determination in this match when they let two players Dinh Xuan Tien and Tran Nam Hai continue to stay with the club to fight until the final match. Although there are some cases that cannot return due to injury such as Tran Dinh Hoang, Ho Van Cuong, Ho Sy Sam..., goalkeeper Van Viet has joined the U23 Vietnam team, missing 2 foreign players, but the Nghe An team still has quality names such as Van Hoang, Trong Hoang and young players who are eager to show their ability.

A victory is within reach for Song Lam Nghe An, because of their relaxed mentality and in terms of head-to-head record, in the past 10 years, Hoang Anh Gia Lai has always suffered defeats when visiting Vinh Stadium. In the first leg, Song Lam Nghe An also won convincingly 3-1. It is predicted that Coach Phan Nhu Thuat and his team will field their strongest lineup as well as create opportunities for young players to show their ability to close out a rewarding season.

Which team will be relegated?

Of the 3 matches, the 2 matches Khanh Hoa - SHB Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City - B. Binh Duong are the most watched. The possibility of relegation of the Han River team is very high, not only because of the unfavorable results from the Ho Chi Minh City - Becamex Binh Duong match, but also because Khanh Hoa Club is a very difficult team to play against, especially when coach Vo Dinh Tan and his team play at home. According to the first scenario, SHB Da Nang will be relegated without any argument when coach Nguyen Minh Duc and his team lose at 19/8 Nha Trang without worrying about the results of the remaining match. This is very likely to happen, because the playing mentality of Da Nang players has been very heavy since the time they met Song Lam Nghe An.

According to the second scenario, SHB Da Nang played well and won against Khanh Hoa. In theory, the rate for SHB Da Nang to stay in the league is still there, but the Han River team has lost the right to decide. However, if the match between Ho Chi Minh City - Becamex Binh Duong ends in a draw, all of Da Nang's efforts will go up in smoke.

Scenario 3, the relegation door is still there with the condition that they must win big against Khanh Hoa, at the same time there must be a win-loss result between Ho Chi Minh City and B. Binh Duong. At that time, Ho Chi Minh City or Becamex Binh Duong will have a team relegated due to having the same 14 points as SHB Da Nang but with a lower goal difference.

That's the theory, but in reality it's extremely difficult. I think VFF, VPF and the tournament 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 race and the results of the above matches will greatly affect the trust of Vietnamese fans in the national championship. Will honesty in competition and fair play be highly valued by the players of the two teams Ho Chi Minh City and B. Binh Duong?

The dissolution of the Nam Dinh Fans' Association due to their infamous match against Hanoi Police is only the first warning for the teams' competitive attitude. In the case of SHB Da Nang being relegated due to losing to Khanh Hoa, there will be nothing much to discuss. However, if Ho Chi Minh City and Becamex Binh Duong deliberately hold each other back, football organizers need to take specific actions to make V.League 2023 healthier and regain the trust of audiences nationwide./.