Identifying Hai Phong Club - SLNA's opponent in round 11 of V.League 2021

Phase IV.League 2021There are only 3 matches left that will decide the group. SLNA currently has only 10 points and is ranked 11th. A position that does not have much chance to enter the group of 6 teams. Even if a miracle appears and wins the remaining 3 matches, the Nghe team still has little chance. However, SLNA must also try hard, keeping the hope of rising up in the most difficult times.

SLNA's opponent in round 11 is Hai Phong Club, a tough opponent at the moment even though the home team's performance is not better than the away team's, ranking 10th with 11 points (3 wins, 2 draws, 5 losses).

Phan Van Duc continues to be SLNA's hope against Hai Phong. Photo: TK

Hai Phong Club's squad this season has not had many changes compared to 2020. In goal is goalkeeper Van Toan, in defense are names like Pham Manh Hung, Ba Duc, Thanh Nguyen, Huu Phuc, Quoc Huong, Hoai Duong, Van Hanh, Adriano Schmidt.

Hai Phong's attack line includes Manh Dung, The Duong, Lo Martin, Thanh Phong, Thanh Dong, The Cuong, Dinh Tai, Trung Hieu, Huu Tuan, Hung Anh, Trong Hieu. Along with forwards Van Trung, Huu Khoi, Diego Silva, Fagan, Jeremie Lynch.

Currently, the port city team has said goodbye to Diego Silva and replaced him with striker Mpande Joseph. Despite having such good foreign players, Hai Phong has a rather weak attack. If counting the recent penalty shootout victory in the National Cup, coach Pham Anh Tuan and his team have gone through 7 matches without scoring a goal.

Pham Manh Hung will meet his old teammates at SLNA. Photo: TK

Specifically, coach Pham Anh Tuan and his team had an impressive start to this year's V.League with 2 wins against Viettel and Nam Dinh. The team at Lach Tray Stadium lost to Hanoi in the 3rd round and had the next victory in the match against B. Binh Duong in the 4th round. That was also the last time Hai Phong had a victory, because since the loss to HL Ha Tinh, Hai Phong started a series of 4 consecutive losses and 2 consecutive draws, without scoring any goals.

Among the V.League teams, Hai Phong is the team with the weakest attack with only 5 goals scored after 10 matches. Of those 5 goals, Adriano Schmidt, Fagan, Lynch and Phu Nguyen contributed 2 goals. Hai Phong's defense conceded 12 goals, an efficiency equivalent to SLNA's 7/12 goals scored/goals conceded.

In the most recent history of confrontation, the two teams met 32 ​​times, SLNA won 10, drew 10 and lost 12. Their record at Lach Tray Stadium is very bad with 2 wins, 7 draws and 7 losses. Obviously, Lach Tray is not a good place for SLNA players.

The difficulties coming to SLNA do not only come from the absence of 2 pillars.Van Khanh, Peter Samuel due to injury, Hai Phong Club with coach Pham Anh Tuan and a series of former SLNA players have understood the strengths and weaknesses of their hometown team. Last season, SLNA lost 1-3 at Lach Tray in the first leg but won 1-0 dramatically at home in the second leg.

Hai Phong's squad this season. Photo: VPF

In the qualifying roundNational CupRecently, SLNA lost 0-1 to Pho Hien while Hai Phong also struggled to defeat Binh Phuoc in the penalty shootout. That shows that the playing style of both Hai Phong and SLNA depends a lot on foreign players. The gap between the main squad and the reserve squad is too big.

In terms of spirit, the home team is full of enthusiasm with a new team president with many positive points. The upcoming match is a confrontation between teams facing difficulties and there will be no mercy. The match between Hai Phong - SLNA will take place at 18:00 on April 28 at Lach Tray Stadium.