Match preview: Saigon FC vs. SLNA: The solution to Phan Van Duc's attacking problem.

Before the match, both Saigon FC and SLNA had 17 points, but the team from Nghe An had a lower scoring efficiency than their opponent and was ranked 5th. The match at Thong Nhat Stadium was considered a "six-point" game; if SLNA won, they would overtake their opponent in the standings.

In terms of defense, SLNA still boasts the best defense in the V.League with only 7 goals conceded, a rate of 0.6 goals per game. Statistical software also shows that SLNA's defense has effectively limited opponents' shots, resulting in a shot accuracy rate of only 32% for the 11 opponents played so far.

SLNA has gone five consecutive matches without a win. Photo: Duc Dong

SLNA is truly facing problems in attack during the period when Phan Văn Đức is still unavailable, foreign players are injured, and Hồ Tuấn Tài has not met expectations. The team from Nghệ An has only scored 8 goals. This limited performance means that coach Đức Thắng's team has gone 5 matches without a win.

In the match against Ho Chi Minh City, SLNA's attack significantly improved its finishing with a 58% possession rate, 10 shots on goal, and 6 on target. This is much more impressive than the 33% success rate of the previous four matches. Coach Duc Thang needs to improve the quality of his players' shots if he wants to win against Saigon FC.

Meanwhile, Saigon FC, led by coach Nguyen Thanh Cong, has scored 15 goals this season, with Pedro Paulo contributing 5, Nguyen Ngoc Duy 3, and Le Quoc Phuong 2. This year, Saigon FC has made several quality additions, most notably midfielder Ngo Xuan Toan, a player who transferred from the SLNA academy and has already scored one goal for the team.

On SLNA's side, coach Duc Thang has just received good news as Phan Van Duc has returned to normal training, and clearly, the SLNA coaching staff will have more attacking options. The duo of Van Duc and Xuan Manh will be the two wing attackers, combined with Khac Ngoc - Tuan Tai - Michael Olaha to form an attacking line that offers much promise.

Phan Văn Đức has a special connection with Thống Nhất Stadium. Of his 9 goals in the 2019 V.League season, one was scored against TP. HCM and another in an away match against Sài Gòn. Photo: Hoàng Tùng

Similar to SLNA, Saigon FC's playing style relies heavily on the organizational abilities of Ngoc Duy and G. Kizito. Compared to SLNA's midfield duo of Van Binh and Khac Ngoc, the home team's midfield is not at all dominant.

Since Saigon FC's promotion, the two teams have met a total of 7 times. Of those matches, SLNA won 4 and lost 3. Notably, all 3 of those losses for Coach Nguyen Duc Thang's team occurred away from home.

Another interesting detail is that SLNA failed to score in the first 15 minutes, while Saigon FC scored the most goals in the last 15 minutes with 5 goals. The inability to maintain the necessary stamina and pressure in the final minutes of the match is a weakness that SLNA could exploit.

If SLNA plays with the same spirit and determination as in the match against Ho Chi Minh City, their chances of winning are very high because Saigon FC is not as well-rounded in both attack and defense as their previous opponent. Furthermore, Coach Nguyen Thanh Cong's team has the advantage of having all three foreign players available for the match against the visiting team.

PREDICTED LINEUP

Saigon:TM Van Hoang, Quoc Long, Thiago Moura, Duc Loi, Ngoc Duy, Quoc Phuong, G. Kizito, Xuan Toan, Vu Tin, Van Buu, Pedro Paulo.

SLNA:TM Nguyen Manh, Dinh Dong, Van Khanh, Damir Memovic, Van Duc, Van Binh, Khac Ngoc, Xuan Manh, Michael Olaha, Tuan Tai.

PREDICTION: 1-2

The match between Saigon FC and SLNA will take place at 7:00 PM on May 31st at Thong Nhat Stadium.

Without Phan Văn Đức, how poor is SLNA's attack?

(Baonghean.vn) - Despite having the most solid defense in V.League 2019, Song Lam Nghe An's attack is among the least effective.