The defending champion almost lost at home.

(Baonghean.vn) - Playing at home and only having to host K.Kien Giang, who is at the bottom of the rankings, everyone thought that this was an opportunity for the Nghe team to get 3 full points at home. However, in the match this afternoon, March 2, the defending champion SLNA performed a lifeless game and almost had to accept defeat against K.Kien Giang.

Before entering the match yesterday afternoon, SLNA suffered a great loss in terms of force when midfielder Hector had to sit out due to absence, Thierry, Abass had not recovered from injuries. Starting with a lineup with only one foreign player, Bebbe, in attack, but with a fairly good reserve force, many people thought that the Nghe team's victory over K.Kien Giang was obvious. However, the developments on the field were completely opposite to many people's opinions, it was the away team K.Kien Giang who dominated the game and forced the home team to chase the score.



SLNA played without passion, held to a draw by opponent K. Kien Giang at home

Although weaker than the opponent in every aspect, coach Lai Hong Van did not choose a defensive style to earn a point but instead rushed to attack right after the opening whistle in the style of "all or nothing". This style of play made the SLNA players a bit surprised and somewhat confused. Right in the 2nd minute, after a seemingly harmless corner kick, goalkeeper Viet Nam fumbled the ball into the net to help K.Kien Giang score the opening goal, surprising everyone present at Vinh Stadium. Having lost the goal, the home team rushed to attack to find an equalizer, facing a well-covered K.Kien Giang defense, the SLNA players were impatient in their finishing moves, so at the end of the first half, the score was still 1-0 in favor of the away team.

Entering the second half, to change the game, coach Huu Thang was forced to send striker Abass and center back Thierry onto the field. The presence of these two players somewhat adjusted SLNA's playing style. In the 56th minute, Abass scored an equalizer to 1-1 for SLNA. While the strikers were trying to find a goal, SLNA's defense played like they were sleepwalking and let striker Oseni score to increase the score to 2-1 in the 87th minute. After this goal, the away team used many tricks to waste time, causing the match to be continuously interrupted and had to be added to for 7 minutes. Disappointed with the home team's playing style, many spectators stood up and left, but in the 90th minute, after a siege in front of K.Kien Giang's goal, striker Abass quickly tapped the ball close to the goal to equalize 2-2, saving SLNA from a humiliating defeat against the newcomer K.Kien Giang.

Showing poor play and revealing many weaknesses against an opponent considered the weakest in the tournament is indeed a worrying thing for coach Huu Thang and his team in defending the V.League championship title and competing in the upcoming AFC Cup.

Duc Dung