HAGL - SLNA: Who is the best "conductor"?
(Baonghean.vn) - The match between HAGL and SLNA at Pleiku Stadium will feature Xuan Truong and Khac Ngoc, the two best central midfielders in Vietnamese football today. This is an opportunity for these two players to show who is the best "conductor" on the Vietnamese football field at this time.
In recent years, Luong Xuan Truong has been an irreplaceable player for the national team at all levels. The only player who can compete with Xuan Truong, his teammate Tuan Anh, is suffering from a long-term injury. Therefore, in the U23 or national team, before the ball rolls, people only ask: Who will play as the central midfielder with Xuan Truong in this match?
Meanwhile, in the past 2 years, midfielder Khac Ngoc has been the default player in SLNA's starting lineup, except for cards and injuries.
Compete
2017 was the turning point for Khac Ngoc, SLNA’s central midfielder number 12. That’s because before the 2016 season, the midfielder born in 1992 was still just a “gem in the rock”. It wasn’t until Hoang Thinh and Quang Tinh left their hometown team that coach Ngo Quang Truong gave Khac Ngoc a chance to play regularly.
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| Coach Park said: Khac Ngoc is an intelligent central midfielder, likes to control the rhythm, strong in long passes to change the direction of attack. Photo: Duc Anh |
Despite his physical and mental disadvantages, Khac Ngoc has good technique, especially when using both feet. His ability to control the rhythm and launch attacks into open spaces is very suitable for fast strikers.
When coach Nguyen Duc Thang took over the team in V.League 2017, Khac Ngoc was an indispensable player in the main frame of the club. This was the season that this player made great progress, so that Mr. Park called him up to the national team.
The midfielder wearing the number 12 shirt scored 3 goals and had 6 passes for his teammates to score. According to the scoring system ofInStat, Khac Ngoc is the best player of V.League 2017.
When talking about the reason for choosing this Nghe An player for the national team, the Korean coach said: Khac Ngoc is an intelligent central midfielder, likes to control the rhythm, strong in long passes to attack. This midfielder passes the ball in a variety of ways, intelligently but the best are still passes to attack. He is also good at long shots but has limitations in physical strength and ability to compete. Khac Ngoc's playing style is briefly described by Mr. Park like that.
Among the other 3 central midfielders called up by Coach Park Hang-seo, Khac Ngoc’s competitor is probably also a player from HAGL. Simply put, both Khac Ngoc and Xuan Truong have similar playing styles, so it is difficult to arrange them to play as a central midfielder pair at the same time. Therefore, whoever shines more in the V-League this season will have more opportunities to start.
Midfield battle?
Returning from Korea, Xuan Truong was given the captain's armband, playing 700/720 minutes in V-League 2018, proving the important role of this player from Tuyen Quang. In fact, Xuan Truong scored 5 goals, including 3 goals in V-League and became an important rhythm control player for HAGL.
Of the 3 goals scored by this talented number 6 in the V-League, 2 are worthy of being included in football textbooks. However, Xuan Truong's ability to participate in defense is problematic, when the attacking pressure is not enough, HAGL is the team that is vulnerable to counterattacks.
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| Playing in the central midfielder position, Xuan Truong has 3 more goals than Khac Ngoc, and the Nghe An conductor also has 3 more assists than the player from Tuyen Quang. Photo: Internet |
Meanwhile, at SLNA, Khac Ngoc's role is becoming more and more prominent. People have seen the assists with long passes to Van Duc and Tuan Tai from this number 12 conductor.
In the match against Ho Chi Minh City FC, Khac Ngoc had a flick from the left wing to assist Tuan Tai to score a very classy goal. Compared to last season, Khac Ngoc's long passes and free kicks had more curl and stopping point in the air for his teammates to take advantage of scoring opportunities.
Compared to Xuan Truong, Khac Ngoc is relieved of some defensive duties as Olaha often plays deep, and Vo Ngoc Toan has returned after injury. Xuan Truong has 3 more goals than Khac Ngoc, and the Nghe An conductor also has 3 more assists than the player from Tuyen Quang.
When both teams are in need of points, whoever can show leadership in creating or scoring goals in the direct confrontation at Plei-ku Stadium will win points in the eyes of Coach Park. Interestingly, both of these players are inclined towards beautiful technical play. Will you side with number 6 Xuan Truong or number 12 Khac Ngoc?
