Identifying Saigon FC - SLNA's first opponent in V.League 2020
(Baonghean.vn) – After a relatively thorough preparation process, Coach Ngo Quang Truong and Song Lam Nghe An are ready for the 2020 season. In the opening match, the Nghe An team will visit Saigon FC.
In the 2019 season, Saigon FC was led by coach Nguyen Thanh Cong, a coach from Nghe An, who grew up from SLNA. Despite not having any stars in the squad, Saigon FC still finished in 5th place last season. This year, the leader of Saigon FC is coach Hoang Van Phuc. In his coaching career, this coach used to lead the national team and in 2017, he made his mark in the first championship of Quang Nam FC.
Preparing for V.League 2020, Saigon FC did not receive strong investment but has a foundation that is a mix of experienced players such as Ngoc Duy, Quoc Long, Van Vu, Dinh Bao... with young players Van Buu, Vu Tin, Huu Son.
In the transfer market, Saigon FC said goodbye to goalkeeper Nguyen Van Hoang, central defender Tran Van Hoa - Gustavo Santos, midfielder Tran Trung Hieu and Trinh Quang Vinh. At the same time, coach Hoang Van Phuc brought in 5 new players, including goalkeeper Duong Tung Tam, central defender Thiago Moura, Ahn Byung-keon, midfielder Nguyen Minh Trung and Huynh Tan Tai.
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| Saigon FC will be the first challenge for SLNA in V.League 2020. Photo: Saigon FC |
Compared to SLNA, Saigon FC is not rated higher in terms of strength and playing style based more on collective spirit. Just like SLNA, Saigon FC prioritizes 1 foreign player for the center-back position, that is Ahn Byung-keon with a height of 1m90.
The two foreign strikers of this team are Geovane Magno and Pedro Paulo, both from Brazil. Last season, Pedro Paulo scored 12 goals for Saigon FC and Geovane Magno had 4 goals.
In addition to the two strikers mentioned above, Coach Hoang Van Phuc still has striker Nguyen Dinh Bao, a player who grew up at SLNA. Unfortunately, the young talent from Nghe An played 10 matches last season but did not score any goals. In addition to Dinh Bao, Ngo Xuan Toan is also an SLNA player who moved to play for Saigon FC and he has 2 goals in V.League 2019.
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| Coach Hoang Van Phuc is an experienced military leader. Photo: Saigon FC |
Under coach Nguyen Thanh Cong, Saigon is a team with high fighting spirit, cohesive playing style and the team's attacks mainly come from Captain Ngoc Duy. But under the hands of coach Hoang Van Phuc, Saigon Club will certainly have some innovations. This coach's style is the ability to defend and counter-attack, close play and not afraid of collision.
Since being promoted, Saigon FC has faced SLNA 9 times, the Nghe An team has won 4, lost 3 and drawn 2. However, at Thong Nhat Stadium, Saigon FC has never lost to SLNA. They have 3 wins and 1 draw. Last season, in the first and second leg, the two teams drew 2-2. The loss of concentration at the end of the match caused SLNA to lose the victory regrettably.
Normally when SLNA plays as a guest at Thong Nhat, coach Ngo Quang Truong’s team will have the support of nearly 10,000 home fans. However, due to the first round being closed to the public, this will be a big loss for the Nghe An team.
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| At V.League 2019, SLNA and Saigon were tied after 2 matches. Photo: VPF |
Preparing for the upcoming match, SLNA has only one injury case, that is Pham Xuan Manh. However, this absence is not too big a loss for SLNA's coaching staff because the team currently still has many names that can play well in the positions of fullback and midfielder. In particular, the return of Phan Van Duc on the left wing and Ho Tuan Tai on the right wing will be the expected wings of SLNA.
With 1 foreign central defender and 2 foreign strikers, SLNA can be completely assured in both attack and defense. The most worrying thing for the away team at the moment is the integration of 2 strikers from Nigeria and Gambia. Along with that, in the central midfield position, Dang Van Lam is still too young while Quang Tinh is on the other side of his career.
However, Saigon FC is not a team that is too strong compared to SLNA and this is a suitable opponent for coach Ngo Quang Truong and his team to be able to bring home 3 full points on the first day of the match. This will also be a match worth waiting for when goalkeeper Van Hoang and Gustavo face their old team, in return, that will also be the mood of the 2 players Dinh Bao - Xuan Toan.
The match between Saigon FC and SLNA FC will take place at 6:00 p.m. on March 8 at Thong Nhat Stadium.
Latest schedule of the first leg of Song Lam Nghe An at V.League 2020
(Baonghean.vn) – Nghe An Newspaper sends to you the official match schedule announced by VPF, updated on February 28 of Song Lam Nghe An Club in the first leg of V.League 2020.