Precarious position at the bottom of the V-League

The bottom three teams are Khánh Hòa (9 points, goal difference -10), Thể Công Viettel (13 points, -8), and Hoàng Anh Gia Lai (13 points, -7). Sông Lam Nghệ An also has 13 points but is temporarily ranked 11th due to a goal difference of -4. One place above them is Hồng Lĩnh Hà Tĩnh with 14 points, meaning they are only one point ahead of the three teams below them, equivalent to a draw.

The biggest surprise came from The Cong Viettel, as the military team, which finished third from the top last season, is now in the relegation battle. Hoang Anh Gia Lai is no stranger to the bottom group, as the team from the mountainous region has long struggled to stay in this difficult position. The bottom ranking of Khanh Hoa was easily predictable given the numerous difficulties they have faced throughout their existence, including squad issues and financial problems.

It's worth noting that the three teams at the bottom of the table, The Cong Viettel and Hoang Anh Gia Lai, both secured convincing victories in Round 13 of the first leg, demonstrating that they will not remain passive at the bottom of the standings as they currently are.

Viettel's convincing 3-0 victory over reigning champions Hanoi Police at Hang Day Stadium shows that coach Duc Thang has found the winning formula for his team after a series of unsuccessful initial matches.

Under coach Vu Tien Thanh, Hoang Anh Gia Lai secured two consecutive wins in rounds 12 and 13 by strengthening their defense, providing a solid foundation for a thriving and effective attack. Khanh Hoa will also not easily accept being "ganged up on" or becoming a "points source" in the second half of the season, because, as head coach Tran Trong Binh stated, "the team will be reinforced" in the second half to escape their undesirable "bottom of the table" situation.

In preparation for the second half of the season, V-League teams, according to the league regulations, are allowed to strengthen their squads (including a full roster of 30 players, with 3 substitutions per 3 times, and the ability to replace/add 3 foreign players...). Therefore, we see teams like Dinh Bac moving from Quang Nam to Hanoi FC on loan, Van Nam moving from Quang Nam to the First Division team PVF-CAND, Tuan Anh joining Thep Xanh Nam Dinh recently, and especially a series of teams replacing foreign players such as Hoang Anh Gia Lai, Binh Duong, The Cong Viettel, Hanoi FC, and Hanoi Police...

There's a striking detail about the fierce competition in the V-League during Round 13, as several players suffered injuries of varying degrees, including Tuan Hai (Hanoi FC), Van Viet (Song Lam Nghe An), and Viet Anh (Hanoi Police). Of course, the serious foul by Tang Tien (Quang Nam), the youthful inexperience of Van Huy (Song Lam Nghe An), and Lucas (Thep Xanh Nam Dinh), who received two yellow cards leading to a red card, all stemmed from immense pressure during the match. These players lacked the awareness and proper conduct to overcome the difficulties, resulting in their elimination from the game according to the rules.

Besides the behaviors that deserve criticism and appropriate disciplinary action, it is also important to recognize that the V-League is raising its standards to meet the set requirements, and the teams and individual players cannot afford to be complacent with the current situation.

With that in mind, the author believes that the three teams at the bottom of the first half of the season will do everything they can to escape their current situation, and they have every reason to achieve their goal. The worrying aspect, unfortunately, concerns the teams from Nghe An province, namely Song Lam Nghe An and Hong Linh Ha Tinh, as they seem to have made no significant moves to strengthen their squads in the second half of the season.

There are rumors that Song Lam Nghe An will be reinforced with several players returning from the 2024 U19 Championship, while the foreign striker loaned to Hanoi Police in the Van Cuong exchange deal is increasingly warming the bench, further frustrating fans. Hong Linh Ha Tinh's addition of Xuan Truong from Hai Phong raises questions about whether this will increase the fluidity and sharpness of their midfield.

The fact that Song Lam Nghe An only narrowly lost to strong teams like Thep Xanh Nam Dinh and Binh Duong, and drew with Hai Phong FC… is commendable, but it seems the bottom of the table is looming in the second half of the season. Things could change immediately if Khanh Hoa gets 3 points in round 14, bringing their total to 12 points, while Song Lam Nghe An, The Cong Viettel, or Hoang Anh Gia Lai struggle, making the bottom of the table even more tense and frustrating. Positions 11 to 13 all have 13 points, meaning positions could be reversed after just one round, and it's impossible to predict which team will fall to the bottom.

Certainly, the second half of the V-League season will be incredibly tense and dramatic at the bottom. Whether the youthful energy, determination, and gradual maturation of a team like Song Lam Nghe An can secure a safe position remains a difficult question to answer. And whether a team like Khanh Hoa, often relegated, will continue to be pressured at the bottom of the table will depend heavily on their efforts to maintain their "tradition of avoiding relegation."