If they lose to SHB Da Nang, Song Lam Nghe An will fall into the 'eye of the storm' of relegation.
The upcoming away trip to Hoa Xuan Stadium in the 9th round of V.League is very important for Song Lam Nghe An. If they continue to lose to the home team SHB Da Nang, the Nghe An team will fall deeper into crisis and face numerous dangers in the relegation battle.
The life and death confrontation between the two final teamsng
Round 9 of V.League 2025/26 at Hoa Xuan Stadium promises to be one of the most intense matches since the beginning of the season. Both SHB Da Nang and Song Lam Nghe An are in a "life-threatening" situation, with 6 points after 8 rounds. The Song Han team is at the bottom of the table, while SLNA is just above. A defeat at this point could cause one of the two teams to sink deeper into the fierce relegation battle.
SHB Da Nang are going through a challenging period despite their efforts to improve their performance. Under the guidance of coach Le Duc Tuan, the Han River team has built a tight defense and quick counterattacks based on the speed of foreign players. However, the limited quality of the squad often causes them to drop points in decisive moments.
The 1-1 draw at the Nam Dinh Blue Steel Stadium in round 8 is a clear example. Leading from the 14th minute but unable to maintain the score, SHB Da Nang continued to lose points in the final minutes. This was a scenario that was repeated in the 1-2 defeat against The Cong Viettel before. The lack of squad depth, reduced physical strength in the second half of the match and the lack of sharpness in the midfield made coach Le Duc Tuan repeatedly admit that he was "powerless" to maintain stability throughout the 90 minutes.
In the midfield, the duo Dang Anh Tuan and Emerson have yet to live up to expectations. Lacking creativity and precision in their handling, SHB Da Nang's midfield is often dominated by the opponent. Despite having home field advantage in round 9, their ability to create breakthroughs is still a big question mark.
Disadvantages of Song Lam Nghe An
On the other side of the front line, Song Lam Nghe An is also in a not-so-bright situation. After a hard-fought draw against defending champion Cong An Ha Noi in round 7, Nghe An fans expected their team to take advantage of Vinh Stadium to win against Dong A Thanh Hoa. But the reality was cruel when SLNA lost 0-1 and continued to stay in 12th place with 6 points.
That failure not only caused the team to lose the opportunity to break away, but also sounded the alarm bell. If they do not change in time, SLNA could fall into a stressful relegation scenario like last season. And the worry is even greater when entering the away match at Hoa Xuan Stadium, they are missing two important pillars.
Striker Dale Moore continues to be absent due to suspension, after being sent off in the match against Hanoi Police in round 7. Despite his unstable performance, the absence of this foreign player also causes SLNA to lose a significant attacking option in the front line.
Center back Le Nguyen Hoang also could not play due to a thigh injury he suffered in the loss to Dong A Thanh Hoa. This is a big loss as this young player is a key player in the defense, an important link in the defense system built by coach Van Sy Son.
Meanwhile, foreign midfielder Enrique has yet to show his connecting and creative role in the midfield. The Colombian player plays slowly, lacks flexibility and has not made an impression in the attacking phases. This puts the burden of scoring on the shoulders of players like Olaha, Van Luong or Quang Vinh.
The history of confrontations in the last 3 years shows the balance between the two teams, when each side won 1, drew 2 in 4 encounters. However, at the present time, just a small mistake is enough to decide the situation. SHB Da Nang has home field advantage, but SLNA must at least get a point if they do not want to fall into crisis.
The match at Hoa Xuan Stadium is therefore considered a “battle of wits” for survival. The winning team will have the opportunity to rebuild the season, while the losing team may have to prepare mentally for a long relegation battle.
For Nghe An fans, the most desired thing at this time is not fancy play, but a result that is enough to keep hope. Because if they leave Da Nang empty-handed, Song Lam Nghe An will officially enter the dangerous "storm zone" of this year's season.
The match between SHB Da Nang and SLNA takes place at Hoa Xuan Stadium - Da Nang at 6:00 p.m. on November 1.
