Nguyen Sy Nam - 'The Philipp Lahm of Nghe An'

(Baonghean.vn) - SLNA secured a convincing victory against HAGL in Round 10 of the V. League 2017. One of the outstanding players who left the biggest impression was right-back Nguyen Sy Nam.

Before the match between SLNA and HAGL, most experts and fans in Nghe An felt uneasy about the home team's defense. For nine consecutive rounds, goalkeeper Nguyen Manh had not kept a clean sheet in a single game.

In addition, the rumors and gossip surrounding the team have had a significant impact on the players' morale. Clearly, even before the ball has started rolling, Que Ngoc Hai and his teammates are at a greater disadvantage compared to their counterparts from the Central Highlands.

To prepare for the away match in Vinh, coach Nguyen Quoc Tuan and his staff must have watched the video of the match between Saigon FC and SLNA that took place a week ago. In the defeat of the Nghe An team at Thong Nhat Stadium, the right-back position – where player Nguyen Sy Nam was positioned – was considered a rather weak link in the defensive system. Meanwhile, HAGL's left flank was extremely strong with the presence of the duo Nguyen Van Thanh and Nguyen Phong Hong Duy, enough to make any opponent wary and fearful.

Nguyen Sy Nam (number 22, far left) in a ball contest with HAGL players. Photo: Internet.

As expected, as soon as the opening whistle blew, the HAGL players clearly showed their intention to attack down the right flank and concentrate all their efforts on exploiting Nguyen Sy Nam's position. Nguyen Van Thanh and Nguyen Phong Hong Duy successively pressed into SLNA's left half in the direction of the visitors' attack. However, all the tactics and efforts of the team from the mountain town were ineffective due to the solidity, persistence, and composure of the 1993-born defender. After dribbling and breaking through, the HAGL "attackers" switched to one-two combinations, then launched hopeful crosses... All in vain!

Noticing that the duo of Nguyen Van Thanh and Nguyen Phong Hong Duy were struggling against the resistance of player number 22, Nguyen Sy Nam, coach Nguyen Quoc Tuan reminded his main striker, Nguyen Cong Phuong, to move more to the left wing, joining Nguyen Van Thanh and Nguyen Phong Hong Duy to form an attacking triangle, hoping to break down the defensive wall of Nguyen Sy Nam and Que Ngoc Hai. In a brilliant afternoon performance, Nguyen Sy Nam completed his assigned task exceptionally well. From dribbling and man-marking to positioning, the defender from Anh Son performed with high efficiency.

Just look at the turnovers, the balls going out of bounds, the frustrated headshakes of Nguyen Phong Hong Duy, Nguyen Van Thanh, and Nguyen Cong Phuong – that's enough to understand how SLNA's right-back played in the match against HAGL. Of course, for Nguyen Sy Nam to perform his duties so well, we can't forget the support of his teammates like Que Ngoc Hai, Tran Phi Son, Ho Khac Ngoc... and especially the effective tactics of the SLNA coaching staff.

Player Nguyen Sy Nam (22) played a very good role in the match between SLNA - HAGL. Photo courtesy.

Not only did Nguyen Sy Nam excel in his defensive role, but he also made a strong impression with his attacking contributions. Whenever the opportunity arose, the 1993-born player immediately pushed forward to link up with Tran Phi Son. Against HAGL players with skillful individual techniques, Nguyen Sy Nam confidently controlled the ball, dribbling down the wing like a true winger. Thanks to the frequent presence of his teammate wearing number 22, Tran Phi Son had more space because the HAGL defenders had to spread their forces to mark him.

In particular, in the final minutes of the first half, Nguyen Sy Nam unleashed a powerful long-range shot that left goalkeeper Pham Van Tien helpless. Unfortunately, a HAGL defender was still in goal and managed to clear the ball right on the goal line. Although that situation didn't result in a goal, Nguyen Sy Nam received resounding applause from the stands at Vinh Stadium.

Putting behind him a disappointing performance against Saigon FC, defender Nguyen Sy Nam redeemed himself with all his efforts and was deservedly rewarded with a 2-0 victory for his team against HAGL. Witnessing Nguyen Sy Nam's outstanding performance, the SLNA coaching staff and fans will be somewhat relieved as defender Tran Dinh Hoang's recovery from injury is progressing rather slowly. The right-back position at SLNA is no longer a weak point.

After the match ended, on the way back to the team's headquarters, Nguyen Sy Nam continuously received congratulations from relatives and fans. Unable to hide his joy, the 24-year-old defender shared: "I am very happy that our team won. Thank you to the fans of Nghe An for always being with the team even in difficult times. As a player and a son of Nghe An, I feel very proud to wear the yellow jersey of my hometown team."

Congratulations to Coach Nguyen Duc Thang and his team for successfully overcoming the difficulties! Congratulations to right-back Nguyen Sy Nam for an outstanding match - we'd like to call him the "Philipp Lahm of Nghe An"./.

Thanh Hung