Phan Van Duc shines to help SLNA quench its thirst for victory

In the absence of striker Peter Samuel, SLNA's coaching staff used a rather mixed lineup. Standing in the goal was still goalkeeper Van Hoang. Defenders Xuan Manh, Van Khanh, Igor Jelic, Dinh Dong. Midfielders Phan Van Duc, Dinh Chau, Xuan Thang and Nguyen Van Duc were on the field for the first time. Playing highest were young player Nguyen Van Viet and striker Bruno Henrique.

At the beginning of the match, both teams started cautiously, but SLNA, with the home field advantage, still had a slight advantage in terms of ball possession. The match only really became exciting from the 30th minute. Defender Thanh Thao of the away team slipped and fell, allowing Phan Van Duc to steal the ball. Two SLNA players rushed down with Van Duc in a counterattack, but Van Duc decided to cut in the middle and shoot from a distance, going over the crossbar.

Phan Van Duc received the award for the most beautiful goal of January and March. Photo: Duc Anh

The visitors were not to be outdone and soon responded. In the 33rd minute, Pape Omar crossed from the right wing just in time for Tien Linh, who headed the ball with quite a bit of force, but luckily for SLNA, the ball went straight to Van Hoang.

And finally, after the first clear chances, SLNA broke the deadlock in the 34th minute. Striker Bruno had a great pass to the left corner of Binh Duong's penalty area for Van Viet, who dodged Rabo Ali and calmly crossed when facing Son Hai, creating conditions for Phan Van Duc to run in and cushion the ball into the empty net.

Starting lineup. Photo: Duc Anh

Conceding a goal, B. Binh Duong tried hard to find an equalizer and they also had a counter-attack opportunity in the 41st minute from Pape Omar's attack. However, Tien Linh's left-footed shot in a favorable position was not difficult enough to defeat the SLNA goalkeeper.

In the rest, SLNA lowered their formation and maintained the score 1-0 when the first half ended.

Phan Van Duc celebrates his goal. Photo: Duc Anh

In the second half, B. Binh Duong had two good chances to equalize. In the 50th minute, Sy Giap on the left wing broke the offside trap and controlled Du Dat's long cross-field pass well. He entered the penalty area but missed the SLNA goal post. In the corner kick that followed, defender Van Khanh's clearance found a Binh Duong player, the ball bounced back into the SLNA goal but fortunately Van Hoang played calmly.

In the 56th minute, young player Nguyen Van Duc almost made his mark in his first match in the V.League. He was fed the ball outside the penalty area but his long shot went as hard as a thread and hit the post. Striker Bruno Henrique then put the ball into Binh Duong's net from a cross but was offside.

In the 68th minute, Binh Duong received a free kick in the middle of the field and SLNA's defense cleared the cross. To Van Vu then had a very good pass back to the penalty area for Omar, but Omar slipped when receiving the ball right in front of the goal.

Emotional goal to increase the score. Photo: Duc Anh

When the second half had passed more than half time, young player Nguyen Van Duc had to leave the field due to injury, giving way to central defender Thai Ba Sang. In the 73rd minute, from a free kick by the away team, Xuan Manh pushed Omar down in a free kick by Binh Duong and the referee pointed to the penalty spot. However, Tien Linh's shot hit the crossbar and flew out. The score of 1-0 was still maintained for SLNA.

In the 80th minute, SLNA effectively promoted their defensive counter-attacking style of play and scored their second goal. From a pass from midfielder Tran Manh Quynh - a young player who had just been substituted, Phan Van Duc received the ball and curled the ball into the far corner, defeating the Binh Duong goalkeeper. The goal made Vinh Stadium explode and the match became more exciting.

If he had been luckier, the Nghe An player would have had a hat-trick of his own. In the 83rd minute, SLNA attacked quickly again and Phan Van Duc had the ball in the middle, but this time his shot was pushed away by Son Hai. Immediately, B. Binh Duong also had some answers. However, luck was still on the home team's side.

In the rest of the match, SLNA introduced another young player, Tran Manh Quynh. He replaced his senior Phan Van Duc and played quite confidently, helping SLNA have more opportunities to widen the gap. In the end, the Nghe An team won 2-0, got 10 points and temporarily escaped the danger zone.

STARTING LINEUP

SLNA: TM Nguyen Van Hoang, Tran Dinh Dong, Hoang Van Khanh, Pham Xuan Manh, Igor Jelic, Cao Xuan Thang, Phan Van Duc, Bui Dinh Chau, Nguyen Van Viet, Bruno Henrique, Nguyen Van Duc.

Binh Duong: TM Nguyen Son Hai, Nguyen Thanh Thao, Nguyen Hung Thien Duc, Rabo Ali, Tran Duy Khanh, Dao Tan Loc, Truong Du Dat, To Van Vu, Pape Omar, Mansaray, Nguyen Tien Linh.