HAGL - SLNA: Guests bring sadness to the hosts?

After the first 8 rounds, the performance of HAGL and SLNA is not similar. While the Mountain City team is in 9th place with 10 points, the Vinh home team has only won 7 points.

However, witnessing the recent performances of HAGL and the Nghe An team in this year's V.League season, Cong Phuong and his teammates left more impressions than what SLNA showed.

Defeating the rookie Nam Dinh (3-2) and SHB Da Nang (2-0), HAGL also held B.Binh Duong (0-0), Hai Phong (1-1), S.Khanh Hoa (1-1) and XSKT Can Tho (2-2). Objectively speaking, if coach Duong Minh Ninh and his team had not suffered from the unfavorable decisions of the referees (especially in the match against S.Khanh Hoa), HAGL would now be in the top half of the rankings.

Watching the Mountain City team compete, fans all have to admit the remarkable maturity of Xuan Truong and his teammates.

The duo Van Toan - Cong Phuong have matured a lot this season. Photo: Internet

Unlike HAGL, the Nghe An team did not have a favorable start in V.League 2018. Apart from the victory over Ho Chi Minh City Club (2-0), coach Nguyen Duc Thang and his team only knew draws (4 matches) and losses (3 matches).

It is worth mentioning that the disappointing result was not because SLNA played worse than their opponents, but simply because they lacked the element of luck. From the opponent’s goalkeeper’s brilliant reflexes, to the goalposts and crossbars of the opposing team’s goal denying goals… The Vinh team is stuck in 13th place on the rankings, both surprising and not.

Having to face the home team HAGL in the current situation, difficulties pile up on difficulties for SLNA. Besides the disadvantage of having to play at Pleiku stadium, the force under the control of coach Nguyen Duc Thang is also somewhat inferior.

Goalkeeper number 1 Nguyen Manh still cannot return to play, foreign player Osmar has just recovered from injury and central midfielder Ngoc Toan is not yet at 100% fitness, not to mention mainstay Olaha is still having to endure pain to play...

In the match at Pleiku Stadium in V.League 2017, SLNA won 2-0 against HAGL. Photo: Internet

However, SLNA's hope of winning points is not small. According to statistics, in the last 4 matches against the Mountain City team, SLNA has been undefeated (won 3, drawn 1). In the last 2 trips to Pleiku Stadium, the Nghe An team also achieved very positive results (won 1, drew 1). Therefore, Pleiku Stadium is not a place where "easy to go, hard to return" for Ngoc Hai and his teammates.

Through the above statistics, it is not an exaggeration to say that SLNA is the “nemesis” of HAGL. Knowing that HAGL is in quite good form, the opportunity to win at least 1 point for coach Nguyen Duc Thang and his team is completely feasible.

If they defeat the home team, not only will SLNA level the score gap between the two teams (3 points), but they will also surpass coach Duong Minh Ninh and his team on the rankings. Once pushed into a difficult and dangerous situation, the fighting spirit of the Nghe An team will rise even higher. Most likely, HAGL will once again have to cry in regret because of SLNA./.