Can Song Lam Nghe An pass Chi Lang?

(Baonghean.vn) - Head coach Ngo Quang Truong being banned from directing 2 matches will cause SLNA to face many difficulties in the match with SHB.DN at Chi Lang Stadium. However, we should not rush to conclude that the Nghe An team will leave the Han River empty-handed.

It seems that the students of Truong “Trau” often play excellently when they are placed in the underdog position. It feels like the SLNA players play with 200% of their performance in matches where they are considered weaker than their opponents. The more dangerous the situation, the more Mr. Ngo Quang Truong and his students demonstrate their admirable tenacious fighting spirit.

SLNA continued to be the underdog when coming to Chi Lang. Photo: Duc Dung.

Remember, after 2 losses against Hai Phong and XSKT.CT (0-2), along with the regrettable 3-3 draw with QNK.QN, many experts and fans thought about the 3rd empty-handed match, when the Nghe An team had to play away against the powerful B.Binh Duong at Go Dau Stadium. However, Tran Nguyen Manh and his teammates surprised everyone with a 2-1 victory, with a double from striker Odat.

In the North Central derby in round 9 of V.League, at Thanh Hoa stadium recently. Before the ball rolled, not many people believed in a favorable result for the Nghe team. However, the scenario that many people speculated did not happen. And if it were not for the "wrong whistle" of referee Ha Anh Chien, SLNA would have made the "rich" FLC Thanh Hoa team taste bitter fruit. Witnessing that match, no one thought that the Nghe team was in the bottom half of the rankings, while the Thanh team was a strong candidate for the championship.

In the upcoming away match against SHB.DN, SLNA is once again rated lower than the opponent. In addition to the absence of coach Ngo Quang Truong on the coaching bench, the Nghe team has to play away. In addition, having to travel by bus round trip between Nghe An and Thanh Hoa, and traveling a long distance from Nghe An to Da Nang will wear down the stamina of SLNA players. It is not without reason that SLNA is not rated as highly as coach Le Huynh Duc's team.

In this match, foreign players of SLNA and Long An played outstandingly - Photo: Duc Dung.

However, as mentioned above, the Nghe An team is extremely scary when falling into difficult situations. It is no coincidence that SLNA is undefeated against the defending champion B.Binh Duong and the current runner-up FLC Thanh Hoa right on the away field. In the defensive - counter-attacking game, SLNA always shows to be extremely dangerous. The Baba - Odat pair is carrying the entire attack of SLNA. 7 goals (6 for Odat, 1 for Baba) out of the total 10 goals of SLNA after 9 rounds, is proof of the importance of this foreign striker pair. Therefore, it is very likely that the next victim of Baba - Odat will be the Han River team, the team that always "takes offense to make up for defense".

After 9 rounds, Coach Le Huynh Duc's team has not proven that they are a unified, quality team. A close observation of SHB.DN's playing style clearly shows that this team lacks a leader in the midfield. Nguyen Minh Phuong's retirement and Phan Thang Hung's move to QNK.QN have left the Han River team without a conductor in the midfield. Nguyen Sa, Hoang Thien or Minh Tam are still far from being able to shoulder the responsibility left by their predecessors. Therefore, SHB.DN's playing style is quite rigid and simple.

Lacking a top-class passer, Le Huynh Duc had to rely on his main striker Gaston Melo. The attacking moves of the Han River team always sought the sharp head of the Argentine striker. Therefore, just trying to block the two wings, sending someone to follow Gaston Melo like a shadow (especially in set-piece situations, aerial battles), will completely neutralize the attack of the Han River team.

SHB.DN’s home ground is not too tough for SLNA. In the trips here, the Nghe An team has achieved favorable results. In the second match of V.League 2015, SLNA won with a score of 2-1. After the defeat against coach Ngo Quang Truong and his team, SHB.DN has had a series of consecutive disappointing matches.

Although SLNA is facing numerous difficulties, the possibility of them getting points at Chi Lang Stadium is completely feasible. The upcoming match will be more focused on the name Que Ngoc Hai (SLNA), after the "incident" that led to the injury of Anh Khoa (SHB.DN) at Vinh Stadium last season.

Le Thanh Hung

(Chi Khe - Con Cuong)