The "magnets" of Vietnam's football field

Most played players

Not Cong Phuong or Xuan Truong, but Pham Xuan Manh is the player who has played the most at the club. Pham Xuan Manh can play left back, right back, left midfielder, right midfielder, so he has always been highly regarded by SLNA since the beginning of the season.

Xuan Manh has played 1,010 minutes for SLNA since the beginning of the season. Photo: Document

Initially, Xuan Manh played right back, but when Dinh Hoang returned from injury, he was moved to the left wing to replace Manh Hung and Ngoc Duc. When needed, coach Duc Thang promoted him to play as a winger to increase the attacking power. Xuan Manh has a good physique, good physical strength, a stubborn style of play, and is not afraid of collision, so he is the "rock" of the Nghe An team. Up to now, this player has played a total of 1010 minutes (including 90 minutes in the National Super Cup, 540 minutes in the V.League and 380 minutes in the AFC Cup).

Quite surprisingly, Xuan Manh's teammate, winger Van Duc, played a total of 1,007 minutes for SLNA, including 540 minutes in the V.League, 90 minutes in the National Super Cup and 377 minutes in the AFC Cup, ranking 2nd. This U23 player plays quite intelligently, has a good physical foundation, so he moves quite widely, and participates effectively in supporting defense. With 3 goals, Van Duc is also the domestic player who scored the most goals in the 2018 V-League and is becoming a pillar of the Nghe An team.

In fact, Van Thanh is also a player who plays 100% of the time for HAGL. He has played a full 630 minutes since the beginning of the season, including six matches in the V.League and one match in the National Cup. Although goalkeeper Bui Tien Dung has returned to his usual bench, he has also played a full four matches in the V.League and three matches in the AFC Cup with 630 minutes.

Goalkeeper kept a clean sheet

Goalkeepers Tuan Manh (S.Khanh Hoa) and Van Cong (Hanoi) are keeping a clean sheet in 4/6 matches. Photo: Internet

Many people were surprised when goalkeeper Nguyen Tuan Manh of S.Khanh Hoa shared the position of clean sheet goalkeeper with Nguyen Van Cong of Hanoi FC. These two goalkeepers have kept clean sheets in 4/6 matches in V-League, both only conceding 2 goals, a very remarkable achievement.

Up to now, the "dark horse" of the coastal city has won 3 matches, drawn 2 and lost 1, with 11 points, ranking 3rd on the rankings, thanks to the great contribution of goalkeeper Tuan Manh. With central defender Zarour Chaher as the mainstay of the defense, S.Khanh Hoa can play with a 3-defender formation when needed. No matter what tactical formation is used, goalkeeper Tuan Manh is still the master of the 16.5m area thanks to his ability to enter and exit appropriately and decisively.

Goalkeeper Van Cong also had 4 clean sheets thanks to the formidable attack of the attack line, which greatly reduced the pressure on the defense line. Foreign players Oseni Ganiyu Bolaji, Moses Oloya, along with Thanh Luong and Van Quyet played well together, always putting the opponent in a passive position. The defense line with national players Dinh Trong, Duy Manh, Van Hau, Van Kien and Van Thanh was well organized, so Van Cong's task was much lighter.

If they continue to play like this, it is predicted that 3 out of the 4 names mentioned above will continue to be on the national team list for the next call-up. More importantly, names like Xuan Manh and Van Duc are "magnets" attracting spectators to the stadium every time SLNA plays.