Looking forward to the stormy days passing in the "cauldron" of Vinh City.

A rare opportunity in the first half that Song Lam Nghe An created in front of Nguyen Manh's goal. Photo: Chung Le

Even though I'm angry, I still love you.

The match at Vinh Stadium was considered the highlight of Round 17 of the V.League 2022. However, the number of spectators who came to watch the match betweenLam River, Nghe AnAnd Viettel suffered a significant drop in attendance. It is estimated that only a few thousand fans were present at Vinh Stadium to watch the match, considered the highlight of Round 17 of the V.League 2022. That number is far less than the match in Round 14 when hosts Song Lam Nghe An faced Hanoi FC.

On the stands, the enthusiasm of the Nghe An fans has significantly diminished. The drums, trumpets, and flag-waving of the supporters are no longer as fiery as before. A quiet atmosphere prevailed at Vinh Stadium throughout the 90 minutes of play. About 15 minutes before the end of the match, some people left. However, quite a few loyal fans of the club still hoped that the stormy days would pass and the light would return to coach Huy Hoang and his team.

Mr. Tran Hung, a Song Lam Nghe An supporter residing in Le Loi Ward (Vinh City), shared: “I love Song Lam Nghe An very much. For many years, I have almost always been present to cheer whenever the team plays. It's like an indispensable source of entertainment for me and my friends on weekends. Today's loss made me and my friends very sad. 'Angry as I am, I still love them,' I hope the team will regain their spirits and deliver beautiful matches for the fans. If Song Lam Nghe An plays true to its identity, the fans will never turn their backs on the team.”

At the end of the match, Song Lam Nghe An lost, and coach Huy Hoang bravely took responsibility: "The responsibility for the recent defeats lies primarily with me. I have not satisfied the football fans of Nghe An. I accept the primary responsibility."

The Vinh Stadium, once a formidable venue for top V.League teams, has been a difficult place to visit, but in recent rounds, fans in Nghe An have not seen this. However, "after the rain comes sunshine," and the unwavering love of Nghe An fans will eventually be rewarded. If Song Lam Nghe An can quickly overcome their psychological barriers, the passion will return to the Vinh Stadium.

A sad day at Vinh Stadium.

Returning to the match in round 17, both teams displayed a rather cautious style of play, with few risky situations. The pace of the game was below average. The ball was mainly passed back and forth in the midfield area.

In the first half, Viettel dominated possession, with Song Lam Nghe An having a significant advantage. Coach Bae Jiwon's team held possession for 64%. However, playing away from home and without midfielder Nguyen Hoang Duc – Viettel's key player – meant the military team couldn't put much pressure on Van Hoang's goal. Bae Jiwon's side opted for a defensive, counter-attacking style, waiting for their opponents' mistakes. By employing this tactic, Viettel only created one significant chance throughout the entire first half. This was when Geovane broke through to face Van Hoang and attempted a shot with the instep, but unfortunately, the ball went wide of the post.

Mario failed to capitalize on his strengths with purposeful passes. Photo: Chung Le

Viettel played without much intensity, and Song Lam Nghe An also displayed a dull and lackluster style of play. The 3-5-2 formation was still employed by the home team in Vinh, as in previous matches. However, coach Huy Hoang's players did not dare to risk pushing their formation high up the pitch and engaging in an attacking game against their opponents. The two wing players mainly played in their own half and focused on defense. Therefore, they failed to capitalize on the strengths of this formation, which emphasizes attacking down the flanks.

On the other hand, the attacking line failed to make flexible runs to allow teammates to exploit the space. Mario was deployed as a defensive midfielder. He tried to find space to deliver impactful passes. However, the attacking players couldn't find effective off-ball movement. As a result, the opponent easily anticipated their moves and won the ball back without much difficulty.

Those were the reasons why Song Lam Nghe An played ineffectively. The only chance the home team created in the first 45 minutes of the match came from a set piece, when Van Duc delivered a cross into the penalty area for Xuan Manh to head the ball, but it missed Nguyen Manh's net.

Coach Huy Hoang's disappointment after the defeat at Vinh Stadium in Round 17 of the V.League 2022. Photo: Hai Hoang

Oseni came on in the second half, but the attacking capabilities of the Nghe An team didn't change much. According to statistics, the Nghe An club's ball possession time in the second half was only about 31%. This figure was even worse than the first 45 minutes (34%). Explaining this, the head coach of Song Lam Nghe An said: “In previous matches, when both Que Ngoc Hai and Hoang Van Khanh were on the field, we organized our attacks quite well. But in this match, without Que Ngoc Hai and Mai Sy Hoang, Song Lam Nghe An played quite disjointedly, lacking the necessary cohesion.”

Song Lam Nghe An's inability to control the game and their subsequent defeat were predictable. Viettel's experience and composure secured their victory right in the fiery atmosphere of Vinh.

After the defeat, coach Huy Hoang shared his thoughts: "In football, everyone wants to achieve the goals set at the beginning of the season. But right now, I just need one win to help the players overcome their psychological barrier. If we can get through that, I think the team will function smoothly again."