Identifying U19 Song Lam Nghe An in the 2023 season

Quang Luc scored the first goal for U19 SLNA this season. Photo: Hai Hoang

Outstanding factors

National U19 Qualifiers 2023, U19Lam River Nghe Anis in group B, along with the teams: Hue, Nam Dinh, SHB Da Nang, and PVF. Group B is held at PVF Sports Center. 1 month before entering the tournament, the coaching staff of U19 Song Lam Nghe An has planned training and personnel, with the hope of bringing a team with full strength.

To achieve that, head coach of U19 Song Lam Nghe An - Mr. Nguyen Van Vinh decided to only take 7 players born in 2004; 4 U17 Song Lam Nghe An players who just joined the National U17; the remaining 14 players are in the 2005 age group.

In particular, in the defense, players such as center back Le Nguyen Hoang and goalkeeper Cao Van Binh have somewhat left a strong impression in the hearts of fans. Although these two players are only 18 years old, they are already pillars of the U20 Vietnam team competing at the 2023 U20 Asian Cup. Surely, having experienced the top football environment in the continent, Nguyen Hoang and Van Binh will have the necessary confidence, creating a support for the defense of U19 Song Lam Nghe An to compete more solidly in this year's National U19.

Center back Le Nguyen Hoang - Vietnam U20 player joins U19 Song Lam Nghe An to compete in the 2023 National U19 Tournament. Photo: Duc Anh

Center back Le Nguyen Hoang shared: “After returning from the U20 Asia, I have learned a lot, from battle experience to improving tactical skills. I feel confident when I and my teammates at U19 Song Lam Nghe An enter the 2023 National U19 qualifying round.”

In the midfield, there is a combination of 3 groups of players from 17 to 19 years old. How to make the Nghe An strikers have harmony in coordination is a difficult problem for coach Van Vinh. Because the players in the U17 group such as Long Vu or Quoc Hoa have just returned from the National U17 tournament and they have not had much time to understand the playing style built by the U19 Song Lam Nghe An coach. However, with their abilities and experience in many different football environments, it is believed that the above players will soon integrate into the general playing style of the whole team.

In addition to the reinforcement of outstanding players in the U17 team, the midfield line also has players such as Quang Vinh, Quang Luc, Van Quy, Van Bac... These are strikers from the 2005 age group who played impressively and helped U17 Song Lam Nghe An win the National U17 Bronze Medal in 2022.

Cai Van Quy was in the starting lineup of U19 Song Lam Nghe An, but did not score a goal in the opening match. Photo: Hai Hoang

On the attack line, player Cai Van Quy has received a lot of attention from many fans. This striker will most likely be arranged by coach Nguyen Van Vinh to play in the center forward position. After nearly 3 years of injury treatment, Cai Van Quy - the striker who once caused a stir in youth tournaments organized by the Vietnam Football Federation - has gradually regained his form.

Thus, if the attack line has a smooth and harmonious combination of strikers like Cai Van Quy, Le Van Quy or Tran Quoc Hoa (a player born in 2007), U19 Song Lam Nghe An will still have bright spots worth waiting for.

Opening smoothly

After a few short days of team building and perfecting the squad, U19 Song Lam Nghe An entered the tournament with confidence and set the goal of soon passing the 2023 National U19 qualifying round.

In the first match, U19 Song Lam Nghe An faced U19 Nam Dinh. With superior class, coach Nguyen Van Vinh's team completely dominated the game. U19 Song Lam Nghe An has players with uniform basic techniques. Therefore, this team chose a small, short passing style and always found ways to develop attacks from the goalkeeper to the front lines. That gave U19 Song Lam Nghe An the initiative in controlling the match. Notably, in midfield, Ngo Van Bac always showed his leading role in leading the play for U19 Song Lam Nghe An. He was the bridge, the player who ignited the quality attacks of the home team.

Despite facing many difficulties, U19 SLNA still shows positive things. Photo: Hai Hoang

To create variation and diversity in the way of approaching the opponent's goal, coach Nguyen Van Vinh built a triangle structure with 3 main factors, Ngo Van Bac, Quang Vinh and Quang Luc. In addition, the surrounding satellite players always move flexibly to create space for teammates to easily drop the ball in. With that way of playing, U19 Song Lam Nghe An created a series of opportunities in front of U19 Nam Dinh's goal.

However, coach Nguyen Van Vinh's students still lacked a bit of sharpness in finishing situations. That's why U19 Song Lam Nghe An only won 2-0 against the team from Thanh Nam. The two goals were scored by Quang Luc in the 32nd minute and Van Quy in the 75th minute of the match.

Not only did the attack front do a good job, the defense of U19 Song Lam Nghe An brought peace of mind to many Nghe An fans. Goalkeeper Van Binh and center back Nguyen Hoang showed their ability and form as they had in U20 Vietnam. Their mature and confident playing style helped them easily neutralize the opponent's attacks, greatly contributing to helping U19 Song Lam Nghe An keep a clean sheet in the opening match.

It is still too early to fully assess the ability of U19 Song Lam Nghe An. However, with a good performance in the opening match, we believe that the Nghe An team will bring positive results in this year's season./.