A new tactical approach for Song Lam Nghe An.
Song Lam Nghe An suffered a 1-0 defeat in their recent match. However, there were quite a few positive aspects to the tactics employed by the Nghe An team at Hang Day Stadium.
In the recent match against The Cong Viettel,Lam River, Nghe AnThe team is missing three key players due to injuries and suspensions: center-backs Hoang Van Khanh and Sebastian Zaracho, and midfielder Ho Khac Ngoc. These are all players who have made significant contributions to helping the Nghe An team improve its performance in 2025.
With striker Benjamin Kuku benched, it seemed like coach Phan Như Thuật's team would be completely outplayed at Hang Day Stadium. However, this turned out to be one of Song Lam Nghe An's best performances in the last four rounds.
The central defensive duo of Nam Hai and Le Van Thanh played with focus and dedication to neutralize dangerous situations in front of goalkeeper Nguyen Van Viet's goal. Supporting them were veteran players Tran Dinh Hoang and Vuong Van Huy, who were ready to move inside to act as a third center-back if needed. This was the reason why Khuat Van Khang and Pedro Henrique had an unsuccessful day.
In addition, wing midfielders Ho Van Cuong and Ngo Van Luong were also very enthusiastic about dropping back to support the defense. Especially Ho Van Cuong, who knows his teammate from the Vietnam U22 team, Khuat Van Khang, very well.
Alongside them was the tireless work of the central midfield duo Phan Bá Quyền and Nguyễn Quang Vinh, acting like shields in the midfield area to limit long-range shots from opposing players.Viettel Sports.
It can be said that coach Phan Như Thuật's team deployed a proactive defensive style of play to create a solid game against the Army team.
We can say they were proactive because, alongside their defense, Song Lam Nghe An also launched quite a few dangerous counter-attacks towards goalkeeper Quang The Tai's goal.
These are fairly modern and straightforward attacking moves. The ball will be developed towards striker Michael Olaha. The Nigerian striker will hold the ball for one or two touches, waiting for a teammate to provide support. The highlight of these plays will be the unexpected changes of direction, with midfielder Dinh Xuan Tien acting as the intermediate link.
The midfielder wearing the number 9 jersey had a very good game. Dinh Xuan Tien's handling of the ball in the match was quite smooth and precise, creating opportunities for the Nghe An team. Typical examples include the perfectly timed pass to Ho Van Cuong, who was one-on-one with goalkeeper Quang The Tai, and the audacious free kick in the second half that forced the The Cong Viettel goalkeeper to make a difficult save.
Unfortunately, luck was not on the side of the Nghe An team, preventing them from achieving a happy ending at Hang Day Stadium. With the absence of three key players, Song Lam Nghe An lacked suitable replacements to ensure fitness across all three lines.
It was the decline in physical fitness that caused Nguyen Quang Vinh to be one step slower than Cong Phuong, leading to the penalty in the final minutes. This lack of stamina also prevented Song Lam Nghe An from creating dangerous counter-attacking opportunities in the final moments of the match.
It can be said that,Coach Phan Nhu ThuatWhile reasonable adjustments were made in the last match, the 41-year-old coach still needs more specific strategies to improve the game in the final stages, thereby avoiding dropping crucial points in the remaining matches of the season.
