Song Lam Nghe An's coach expressed regret at Ninh Binh's comeback victory.
Despite taking the lead, Song Lam Nghe An still lost 2-1 to Ninh Binh in a comeback victory at Vinh Stadium, and the Song Lam Nghe An coach expressed regret after the match.
On the afternoon of May 16th, Song Lam Nghe An suffered a 1-2 defeat against Ninh Binh at Vinh Stadium in Round 23 of the V.League 2025/26. Despite being the more proactive team and taking the lead through Phan Ba Quyen's goal, the Nghe An team couldn't secure any points, conceding two goals in quick succession in the final minutes of the match.
After the match, coach Van Sy Son couldn't hide his regret when looking back at his players' performance. "I'm truly disappointed about today's loss. For me, a defeat always leaves a lot of emotions. What I feel most strongly is that we don't have many players left to replace the old ones," coach Van Sy Son shared.
The SLNA coach believes that the Nghe An team had a decent game. The players showed high determination and executed the tactical plan set by the coaching staff quite well. “After taking the lead, I felt the players played very well. We were prepared for the opponent's situations. However, the two goals conceded at the end of the match were truly regrettable,” added Coach Van Sy Son.
For most of the match, SLNA played evenly with Ninh Binh, the team currently ranked 3rd in the league and boasting many national team players. The Nghe An team even created more dangerous opportunities in the first half but failed to capitalize on them to increase their lead.
According to coach Van Sy Son, the biggest difference between the two teams lies in their ability to capitalize on opportunities. "In my opinion, both teams played equally well in this match. The important thing is that the Ninh Binh players took advantage of their chances better," he stated.
The turning point of the match came in the 80th minute when SLNA conceded a penalty after a handball in the penalty area. From the penalty spot, Geovane scored the equalizer before completing his brace just minutes later to help the visitors come from behind to win.
Coach Van Sy Son believes that declining physical fitness and concentration towards the end of the match were the reasons why SLNA lost their advantage. "I think towards the end of the match, the players started to get tired. When physical fitness declines, concentration can no longer be maintained at its highest level. That's what cost us dearly," the SLNA head coach shared.
The defeat against Ninh Binh means SLNA continues to face pressure in the relegation battle, with the gap to the bottom of the table at risk of narrowing. However, with a new sponsor, SLNA will be able to overcome this difficult period.
“With a new sponsor, I believe the team will be built better. If there is a clear division of responsibilities and reasonable reinforcements, SLNA will be stronger in the future,” said coach Van Sy Son.
Despite the defeat at home, coach Van Sy Son still maintains faith in the Nghe An team's ability to avoid relegation. "The relegation battle is unpredictable, but we remain confident with three matches remaining," coach Van Sy Son affirmed.
After round 23, SLNA will continue to face a challenging schedule. In the next round, the team from Nghe An will travel to face Becamex Ho Chi Minh City in a match that is crucial for their relegation battle.
