SLNA – HAGL Prediction (September 26): Numbers favor Nghe An

Compared to last season, this year HAGL has had many changes in terms of personnel. The mountain town team brought in many quality names such as center back Damir Memovic fromSLNA, Nigerian defender K. Oahimijie. The former V.League champion only retained striker Chevaughn Walsh who scored 7 goals last season.

Recently, HAGL has been making positive moves in the transfer market, aiming to find and add new players for the final stage of the season. Recently, the team from the mountain town has closed its first deal with a short-term contract with former Vietnam national team striker - Nguyen Anh Duc as a free agent. In the opposite direction, they also let Hoang Thanh Tung, Vu Minh Hieu, Nguyen Canh Anh play in the First Division...

HAGL's stars are highly regarded for their individual skills but weak in competition. Photo: Duc Anh

With such additions, along with star players reaching their peak such as Luong Xuan Truong, Nguyen Tuan Anh, Nguyen Van Toan, Vu Van Thanh, Nguyen Phong Hong Duy, Chau Ngoc Quang, HAGL is showing a completely different appearance compared to previous seasons. The proof is that they have had 4 wins, 5 draws and only 2 losses, scoring 12 goals.

However, despite these positive aspects, HAGL still has weaknesses. They have conceded 12 goals in the first 11 rounds. HAGL's goals often come in the final minutes of the match (67% of goals conceded in the second half) due to the lack of concentration of the defense. This is an inherent weakness of the team led by coach Lee Tae-hoon.

Some statistics from Instat about HAGL. Graphics: TK

Of the 12 goals scored by HAGL, Tuan Anh, Van Thanh, Ngoc Quang, A Hoang, Van Anh contributed 1 goal, Van Toan 2 goals and the remaining depended on striker Chevaughn Walsh (5 goals). Coach Lee Tae-hoon and his team are famous for starting the matches very well. The proof is that they scored 4 goals (33% rate) in the first 15 minutes of the match.

In terms of expertise, HAGL is not a team that is highly regarded in terms of technique and tactics. In terms of ball control, tricky passes, finishing, and competition, they are only average. Most of HAGL's goals are scored in the penalty area (92%), while the number of goals from outside the penalty area is very limited in the last 11 matches. HAGL's defensive ability in the 16m50 area is also relatively poor, 92% of their goals conceded come from close-range situations.

Despite having poor results in the last 6 matches, SLNA's defense is still rated higher than HAGL in terms of experience. Photo: Duc Anh

Despite having a series of national team stars, HAGL has very low scores in terms of quality of shots. Specifically, on average, each match, they only launch 2.9/8.6 shots on target. It is quite surprising that HAGL is the second team in the list of teams committing the most fouls in the home field (average 6.6 fouls/16.6 fouls in 1 match).

Unlike HAGL's initial criteria when they first joined the V.League, this team no longer controls the ball as well as before. In terms of ball possession, they are only more than B. Binh Duong with an average of 99 ball possessions per match. This number is 103 for SLNA and the highest is Hanoi Club (114). Accordingly, HAGL's pressing ability is also the worst, second to V.League 2020 (38%).

Some statistics from Instat about SLNA. Graphics: TK

On HAGL's field, SLNA often faces difficulties, but when returning to Vinh field, the Nghe An team is the better player. In the history of 31 confrontations, SLNA won 13, drew 9 and lost 9. SLNA's home record against HAGL is only 1 loss, 4 draws and 11 wins. That proves that HAGL's technical style of play is very difficult to deploy on Vinh field in any circumstance.

However,SLNAwill need to pay attention to striker Nguyen Van Toan. This player not only has speed and the ability to sweep, but he also has 5 assists in the V.League, becoming the most effective passer as of round 11. If Van Toan and foreign striker Chevaughn Walsh can be blocked, the chance of coach Ngo Quang Truong and his team scoring points is very high.

Van Duc, Xuan Manh, Van Toan excitedly waiting for the big match between SLNA - HAGL at Vinh stadium

(Baonghean.vn) - Two days before the return of round 12 of V.League, SLNA and HAGL players started warming up for the match at Vinh Stadium. The stars of both teams showed their determination and readiness for the tournament's return.