Highlights of the SLNA - Thanh Hoa match: 10 points for Michael Olaha?

Alves dos Santos brings utter disappointment

Of the three foreign players that SLNA has registered for the V.League so far, striker Alves dos Santos is probably the one that has disappointed Nghe An fans the most. Laziness in movement, lack of enthusiasm in playing and uncontrolled fouls are things that anyone who has followed SLNA through the past 5 rounds can easily see in this striker wearing the number 19 shirt.

Alves Santos continues to disappoint. Photo: Duc Anh

In the match against neighboring team Thanh Hoa, who are struggling with financial and personnel difficulties, SLNA is determined to get 3 points to climb to the top of the rankings.

However, when the match had only been 8 minutes, in an attacking situation and was closely marked by the opposing defender, the Brazilian striker could not keep his composure and committed a very rude foul. The referee did not hesitate to give Alves dos Santos a red card, forcing his teammates to play with a handicap for the rest of the match. Luckily for SLNA, Thanh Hoa was in crisis, otherwise it would not have been an easy match for the home team.

Michael Olaha Shines

Without Van Duc, his extremely compatible teammate on the attack line in the past 3 matches, Olaha has not been able to find a connection with other partners on the attack line to maximize his effectiveness. In SLNA's 5th match in V.League 2019, even worse, his partner in the striker position played for less than 8 minutes, leaving striker number 7 alone to shoulder the responsibility of scoring goals.

Olaha performs solo in front of Thanh Hoa defenders. Photo: Duc Anh

Being short of players, SLNA was forced to play defensive counter-attacks. With his speed and technique, Olaha made Thanh Hoa's defense sweat at least 5 times with the counter-attacks that he and his teammates created. If he had been luckier, striker number 7 could have had a goal of his own if his chest-stopping and cool-headed shot in the 79th minute had not hit the crossbar.

Creative midfield

The duo Van Binh and Khac Ngoc continued to play excellently to help SLNA control the game when playing with one less player. Since Van Binh returned, Khac Ngoc also had more space for himself in the attack. The situation leading to the goal originated from Van Binh's delicate pass to Dinh Hoang before the number 6 defender was fouled in the penalty area.

Playing with only 10 players, Khac Ngoc and his teammates played with great effort. Photo: Duc Anh

On the penalty spot, Khac Ngoc was the one who brought home the only goal of the match. Against the defending champion Hanoi, this pair may have been at a disadvantage, but with the remaining 12 teams, Khac Ngoc's youth and Van Binh's experience were enough to make it more difficult for the opponent's midfield to attack, and more of a headache to regain control of the ball.

The role of the “giant” Damir Memović

SLNA's starting lineup. Photo: Duc Anh

Possessing an impressive height, the ability to judge situations and intercept the ball well helps the number 4 center-back always take the initiative in the home team's defense situations. The presence of this player on the field helps SLNA neutralize many dangerous attacks from the opponent, including high balls or low balls, since the beginning of the season.

If not counting the comprehensive defeat of SLNA in the away match to the capital, in the remaining 4 matches, the Serbian midfielder and his teammates in defense only conceded 1 goal. Possessing a quality midfielder like Damir Memović for a team with many financial difficulties like SLNA is truly a bargain.

Nguyen Manh's peak performance

Returning from injury, the captain of SLNA in the match against the Thanh team did not have to move much in the first half. Although SLNA played with one less player, Thanh Hoa's weak attack could not get the ball up during the first half. Until the break between the two halves passed, coach Nguyen Duc Thang (Thanh Hoa) made adjustments in tactics and personnel, his students began to create pressure and opportunities that could result in goals.

Goalkeeper Nguyen Manh. Photo: Hai Vuong

However, in the rare times he was able to eliminate the SLNA defenders, the last stopper of the Nghe An team made the opposing strikers hold their heads in regret at least twice with his brilliant and sure-footed saves.

After the match with Thanh Hoa, SLNA will have to visit SHB Da Nang in the next round without the services of strikers Alves dos Santos, Phan Van Duc, Xuan Manh, Ho Tuan Tai and Vo Ngoc Duc.

The match between SHB Da Nang and SLNA will take place at 5:00 p.m., Friday, April 19.

Coach Duc Thang: "This was a bad match for Thanh Hoa"

(Baonghean.vn) - Having the advantage of more players in most of the match, Thanh Hoa coach Duc Thang had to helplessly watch his players lose to Song Lam Nghe An at Vinh Stadium. The young coach of the Thanh Hoa team expressed his dissatisfaction with the spirit of his players.

Sy Hieu