Coach of Song Lam Nghe An regrets after losing to Hanoi FC
Despite taking the lead and playing with great effort, Song Lam Nghe An still had to accept a bitter 1-2 defeat against Hanoi FC at Vinh Stadium in round 22 of V-League 2024/25. After the match, coach Phan Nhu Thuat could not hide his regret when his team lost the match.
On the evening of May 10, at Vinh Stadium,Lam River Nghe Anhost Hanoi FC in the 22nd round of V-League 2024/25. This is a match where the Nghe An team faces a big challenge as the opponent is desperate for points to keep up with the top team in the championship race. Meanwhile, Song Lam Nghe An also has no way back as the relegation battle is entering its most intense phase.
However, with a determined spirit and home field advantage, coach Phan Nhu Thuat's team entered the match with confidence. The initiative in deploying the game helped Song Lam Nghe An create many dangerous situations. The result came not long after the home team scored the opening goal.
After the goal, Song Lam Nghe An continued to maintain a good game and play cohesively. However, with an attack line that possessed many outstanding individuals, it did not take Hanoi FC long to bring the match back to balance.
Entering the second half, both teams created clear opportunities. In particular, SLNA had the most notable situation when striker Kuku had a chance to face the Hanoi FC goalkeeper but could not score. The opportunity passed and signs of fatigue began to appear in the yellow team's playing style.
And in the final minutes of stoppage time, Daniel Passira's accurate header left the Daniel Passira defense helpless, sealing a 2-1 victory for the away team. The reverse defeat at home has made Song Lam Nghe An's path to staying in the league even more fragile.
Speaking after the match, coach Phan Nhu Thuat could not hide his regret: “I think that if this match ended in a draw, it would be more worthy of what Song Lam Nghe An showed. I really regret that the team lost in the last minutes.”
The strategist of the Nghe An team also frankly admitted that the biggest weakness at present is the ability to finish. “Scoring is our weakness. In recent matches, Song Lam Nghe An has created many opportunities, but the finishing is still not effective. I personally take responsibility for this.”
The results of other matches this round have made the situation at the bottom of the table more tense. With Da Nang defeating Binh Dinh, the relegation race is still divided equally among four teams: Quang Nam, Song Lam Nghe An, Binh Dinh and Da Nang.
Mr. Thuat commented: “I think the relegation race this season is very exciting. Song Lam Nghe An has 4 more matches, we will try our best in each match to complete the goal.”
The captain of Song Lam Nghe An expressed his confidence in the ability to decide for himself in the final rounds: "We have 2 home matches and one away match against Da Nang - the team at the bottom of the table. If we get good results, Song Lam Nghe An has a chance to stay in the league."
However, the coach also admitted his regret for the points he had lost earlier: “This season, Song Lam Nghe An had some great away matches, creating many opportunities but could not finish them off. Then they tied or lost, which was a pity.”
The loss to Hanoi FC has put Song Lam Nghe An in a difficult position in the relegation race. With 4 matches remaining, the Nghe team needs to have at least 2 wins and 1 draw to keep their hope of staying in the league. However, this is not easy when Song Lam Nghe An has to face strong teams, including the top team Nam Dinh. Hopefully, coach Phan Nhu Thuat's team will temporarily forget the defeat in the match with Hanoi FC to quickly regain their spirit for the fierce relegation battle ahead.
