Song Lam Nghe An revived from the dead?
(Baonghean.vn) - SLNA's reserve team lost 2-3 to Johor DT in Malaysia, but it was a match in which the Nghe An team caused a surprise with 2 goals from free kicks.
The match at Hassan Yunos Stadium took place with complete dominance from the home team. Johor Darul Ta'zim controlled the ball up to 75% in the first half, while SLNA had 25%. However, the Nghe An team still had 4 shots, 3 on target and 2 goals. An astonishing number coming from SLNA, who played very poorly in aerial battles. The two goals scored by Viet Nguyen and Tuan Tai both came from two corner kick situations.
In the first goal, Viet Nguyen took advantage of a gap in Johor Darul Ta'zim's midfield to unleash a low and dangerous shot. Meanwhile, Ho Tuan Tai confidently jumped high to head the ball into a dangerous corner, a typical finish from a striker.
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| An aerial defense by center back Pham Manh Hung in the match against Johor DT. Photo: Johor DT |
At the end of the match, coach Longhi and defender Corbin - Ong of the home team could not be satisfied with this. "We played well in the first half and deserved the two goals, but there were two mistakes that cost us. We need to improve our defense in free kicks and corner kicks," said Mr. Raul Longhi.
Defender Corbin - Ong complained: “SLNA only had two chances, those were our mistakes that led to goals. It was disappointing, because the quality of our squad was enough to knock them out of the group stage. A few poor results cost us. We have to focus on the next tournament and have to improve on mistakes like this.”
The two goals that SLNA scored were when the Nghe An team did not have Khac Ngoc as captain, Thanh Phong and Sy Sam playing in the central midfield position, and also did not have Olaha Michael. However, coach Duc Thang's students still caused a lot of difficulties for their opponents.
It should be remembered that SLNA's disadvantage in the AFC Cup was also due to the regrettable 0-1 loss at Bung Karno Stadium to Persija Jakatar. SLNA's patchwork defense still stood firm against the home team's overwhelming attacks and only lost at the last minute when they were short of players.
The recent 2-3 loss to Johor DT, if not for the situation where Sy Nam accidentally touched the ball with his hand leading to a penalty, the 2-2 result would have been a real shame that the SLNA reserve players brought to the pride of Malaysian football. In the end, the Nghe An team still ranked above their opponents and pushed each other out of the AFC Cup 2018.
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| Goal by defender Que Ngoc Hai in the match against Ho Chi Minh City Club. Photo: Nguyen Hai |
AFC statistics show that in this continental arena, SLNA scored 2 header goals and 3/8 goals from corner kicks. In V.League 2018, the Nghe An team also scored 3/7 similar goals. Those were the finishing shots of Phan Van Duc, Que Ngoc Hai in the away match against Ho Chi Minh City Club and Ho Tuan Tai in the match against XSKT Can Tho.
As in the last 5 matches in the 2 fronts of V.League and AFC Cup, different formations of SLNA created 6 goals from dead ball situations and aerial battles. This is a surprise coming from the Nghe An team which is very weak in finishing in the air.
Former head coach of Vietnam National Team - Mr. Toshiya Miura once said that goals in aerial battles and corner kicks largely determine the ability to win, accounting for 30-40% of total goals.
And when SLNA just caused disappointment at the AFC Cup because they did not dare to play all-in, tirelessly searching for victory at the V.League arena at home, it was almost a sign of optimism. In particular, those goals vaguely showed the return of young striker Ho Tuan Tai./.
List of goalscorers at AFC Cup 2018: Ho Tuan Tai (2), Nguyen Viet Nguyen, Michael Olaha, Ho Phuc Tinh, Ho Khac Ngoc, Phan Van Duc, Pham Xuan Manh.
List of goalscorers in V.League 2018: Phan Van Duc (3 goals), Osmar Francisco, Michael Olaha, Que Ngoc Hai, Ho Tuan Tai.
V.League 2018: When will Song Lam Nghe An win at home?
(Baonghean.vn) - Up to round 6 of V.League, only SLNA and Nam Dinh are the two rare teams that have not enjoyed the joy of victory at home. If the rookie Nam Dinh has encountered many difficulties in terms of personnel, the Nghe An team's poor start is a chronic disease.