Looking back at SLNA's victory over Hanoi: Youthful energy extends record

Reasonable tactics

Obviously, SLNA's coaching staff has prepared very carefully for the expected difficult away trip to Hang Day Stadium. The Nghe An team did not return to Vinh after the match against Thanh Hoa but moved straight to Ha Nam to temporarily station troops. During the training time here, Coach Ngo Quang Truong and his students had the best preparation in terms of physical strength, tactics and spirit.

The starting lineup against Hanoi FC also showed reasonableness. Accordingly, striker Alagie Sosseh was not allowed to play due to his poor performance. Pairing with foreign player Peter Samuel was striker Ho Tuan Tai. And young player Tran Dinh Tien was given the opportunity to start for the first time, against a big opponent.

Pushing Tuan Tai to play higher and Dinh Tien - Van Duc having good ability to attack the flanks, Peter Samuel's ability to disrupt helped the Nghe team to dominate the home team in the first half and have the first clear opportunities.

Striker Tuan Tai is more dangerous when playing as a center forward instead of a winger. Photo: Duc Anh

When scoring, SLNA started playing defensive counter-attacks and repeatedly put Hanoi's defense on high alert. Overall, in terms of tactics, this was a match with good calculation and preparation by SLNA's coaching staff because Hanoi FC is a team that is not easy to defeat under any circumstances.

The mark of young SLNA players

When Quang Tinh was not present from the start, Dinh Dong was the oldest player on the field. After taking the lead and Phan Van Duc was let go, SLNA had 6 young faces playing professionally for the first time including Thai Ba Sang (born in 1999), Bui Dinh Chau (born in 1996), Dang Van Lam (born in 1999), Tran Dinh Tien, Nguyen Van Viet (born in 1998) and Tran Ngoc Anh (born in 1999).

SLNA's starting lineup in the last match was mainly made up of new faces, only 21 years old. Players Van Hoang, Tuan Tai (born in 1995), Van Duc (born in 1996) although only 24-25 years old, can be considered pillars. This has brought youthfulness and boldness, a breakthrough in SLNA's playing style. Typically, Van Lam's goal left Van Cong standing still and watching.

Midfielder Tran Ngoc Anh in a threat to Hanoi's goal. Photo: Duc Anh

Not only that, this was a match where midfielder Bui Dinh Chau also neutralized the danger of national players like Hung Dung, Duc Huy, Quang Hai on the side of Hanoi FC. Even a young midfielder like Tran Ngoc Anh, Tran Dinh Tien also had clear scoring opportunities.

Obviously, the young players of SLNA are young but not “inexperienced”. There are players who have been tested in the First Division but there are also players who have never breathed the professional atmosphere. Although there are still veteran players, the boldness in using young players is helping SLNA go in the right direction.

Van Hoang's "red" form

It seemed that Nguyen Manh's departure would cause many difficulties for SLNA's defense, but Van Hoang joined his hometown team according to the wishes of this player who grew up in Hanoi. After 5 matches for SLNA in V.League 2020, goalkeeper Van Hoang deserves to be a valuable contract of the Nghe An team.

This season, the Nghe An team prioritizes defensive counter-attacks and Van Hoang has to work very hard. However, he has not had to pick the ball out of the net once this season. This is an achievement that no other goalkeeper in the V.League has achieved. Van Hoang's only weakness is that his entry and exit have improved significantly and progressed with each match.

Goalkeeper Van Hoang continues to have an excellent match. Photo: Vietnamnet

In the match against Hanoi alone, goalkeeper Van Hoang had no less than 10 interceptions and saves for SLNA. If we were to pick the best player for SLNA in the last match, Van Hoang would be the most deserving name. Van Hoang’s excellent performance is also helping to widen the chances of the goalkeeper from Nghe An to be called up to the national team.

Not only the goalkeeper position, but also the transformation came from the central defender pair Gustavo - Ba Sang. The attacking players on the Hanoi side such as Pape Omar, Romario, Van Quyet, Quang Hai are all top strikers in V.League. Therefore, the 1-0 victory at Hang Day Stadium was no less than a miracle.

The numbers speak for themselves.

SLNA's victory was even more meaningful as SLNA ended Hanoi FC's unbeaten streak at Hang Day Stadium since the end of 2017. And after 8 years since the 6-2 victory of coach Huu Thang and his team at V.League 2012, SLNA was able to celebrate victory right on the opponent's field.

SLNA is flying high on the shoulders of young players. Photo: Trung Kien

If in the past, SLNA often only scored in the first half and easily lost points in the second half, now, SLNA's appearance is completely different. The Nghe An team kept a clean sheet in the first 45 minutes and accelerated in the beginning of the second half. In 3 of SLNA's goals in V.League this season, all came from minutes 45-60.

After the match against SLNA, they are holding records if looking at the V.League 2020 rankings. Currently, SLNA is the team with the most solid defense, not conceding a goal. Along with Saigon FC, these are the 2 teams that have not lost this season. This can be considered the best start in recent years.

Song Lam Nghe An defeated Hanoi, temporarily leading V.League 2020

(Baonghean.vn) - Dang Van Lam's long-range shot helped SLNA win a narrow victory over Hanoi right at Hang Day Stadium, round 5 of V.League 2020. This victory is not only meaningful in terms of points, but it also erases the Nghe team's streak of not winning at Hang Day Stadium.