Song Lam Nghe An - a mix of joy and worry.

(Baonghean.vn) - In an afternoon where, except for HN.T&T's loss, 6 out of 7 home teams secured 3 points, SLNA's victory over Saigon was considered "half-joyful" because the goal of 3 points was achieved, but there was also a hint of "half-worry" (or perhaps more worry). Let's analyze the SLNA vs. Saigon match in depth.

FIFA Virus

Of the four SLNA players called up to the national team, excluding Phi Son who didn't play, three-quarters returned to Vinh Stadium showing different performances. Right-back Dinh Hoang was absent due to health reasons, Que Ngoc Hai failed to make an impression in his central midfield role, and goalkeeper Nguyen Manh had "passed away" after his wedding exactly one week earlier.

Midfielder Phi Son's performance was only average; his ball control and dribbling didn't leave a significant mark, partly because Sy Sam rarely plays as a full-back. When in possession, Phi Son often stands quite far from his teammates, and without someone to hold up the ball, he has to pass it back to the midfield.

Odah's quick reflexes, finesse, and skillful ball handling led to the only goal against Saigon FC. Photo: Thanh Tung/TTXVN in Nghe An.

Playing against Saigon, a weaker team, the SLNA coaching staff decided to play an attacking game from the start. However, Que Ngoc Hai's long passes, a forte of his, were not utilized in this match. According to statistics, Ngoc Hai only had 1 out of 7 accurate long passes, and in the first half, he didn't even manage a single decent pass.

SLNA's defensive capabilities from afar are also problematic; the coaching staff has repeatedly had to shout instructions to Ngoc Hai to play in the correct position. Thus, it can be said that, apart from Nguyen Manh, SLNA is suffering from the "FIFA virus," directly affecting their professional quality.

Although not part of the national team, former player Mạnh Hùng also made some avoidable mistakes. In the 18th minute, during a counter-attack, instead of clearing the ball out of bounds (later joined by Minh Đức), he raced with Văn Thuận across half the field. He was still unsteady on his feet, failing to win the ball, and Văn Thuận provided a perfect pass for captain Ngọc Duy. From 5 meters out, the national team player pursed his lips and shot the ball wide, with goalkeeper Nguyên Mạnh's goal already empty.

The SLNA coaching staff must quickly rectify such fatal errors, starting with underestimating the opponent and then being unable to react in time when they are outmaneuvered. Not to mention, towards the end of the match, the left corner, guarded by defender Mạnh Hùng, saw Văn Đại of Sài Gòn facing Nguyên Mạnh at least twice, and only the goalkeeper's brilliance saved SLNA from securing a lucky three points.

Bright spot

The audience voted for Odah and goalkeeper Nguyen Manh as the two best players of the match. Odah's tenacious play exhausted Saigon's central defenders Andrew and Dinh Trong, and on one rare occasion, Andrew made a mistake leading to a goal conceded.

Nguyen Manh's decisive actions in coming out of his goal and clearing the ball ensured he performed his duty of protecting the goal well throughout the 90 minutes of play. Photo: Thanh Tung/TTXVN in Nghe An.

A host of strikers, including Ngoc Duy, Xuan Duong, Dinh Trong, Cong Thao, Van Thuan, and Maurice, tried everything – close-range shots, long-range shots, high balls, low balls – especially in the final five minutes of the match, "shooting from every angle," but still couldn't find the net against SLNA. A major contribution must be given to goalkeeper Nguyen Manh, who was showcasing his skills for the home crowd and his newlywed wife in the stands. And, of course, we can't forget Van Vinh, a silent playmaker for SLNA.

I wholeheartedly agree with the comment of Dr. Le Thong Nhat, a fan of SLNA: That free kick with the instep was absolutely perfect. If it had been just a little lower, Saigon's center-back Andrew would have saved it; if it had been higher, striker Odah would have been helpless, or goalkeeper Duc An of the opposing team would have controlled it. Not only that assist, but in the 70 minutes he was on the field, Van Vinh's ball control was quite varied, creating favorable opportunities for Baba and Odah to receive the ball. When young player Van Duc came on, he couldn't maintain the rhythm of the game, and the momentum gradually shifted in favor of the visiting team.

With 7 points in hand, SLNA has climbed to 7th place in the standings. But what concerns the fans in Nghe An is that SLNA, in the process of rejuvenating its squad, needs to quickly stabilize its playing style in order to gradually achieve success.

AT