SLNA has just done the impossible.

The most recent defeat for Coach Chu Đình Nghiêm's team was on May 2, 2019, against Yangon United in the 2019 AFC Cup. In the V.League, S. Khánh Hóa was the last team to secure three points when they left Hàng Đẫy Stadium on July 2, 2017.

Therefore, even without Moses, Dinh Trong, and Duy Manh, and with Quang Hai on the bench due to a minor injury, no spectator thought SLNA would win. Since the 2005 season, SLNA has never managed a draw, let alone three points, when facing hosts Hanoi.

A sound strategy

Choose an offensive approach, playing a tit-for-tat game. Photo: Duc Anh

What contributed to SLNA's victory? The credit primarily goes to coach Quang Trường and his staff, who opted for an attacking, back-and-forth style of play, rather than a defensive approach. The SLNA coaching staff cleverly countered Chu Đình Nghiêm's strategy, positioning Thành Lương and Văn Quyết to exploit SLNA's right flank, defended by Sỹ Nam.

SLNA benched foreign player Alagie Sosseh, bringing Tuan Tai in as the central striker. Young midfielder Tran Dinh Tien came on to support Sy Nam in controlling the right wing very well, preventing the two most cunning players of the home team from overlapping. This was considered a "2-in-1" solution, but in reality, Dinh Tien provided better defensive support than Tuan Tai.

Conversely, watching Hanoi play against Quang Ninh and Hong Linh Ha Tinh, the SLNA coaching staff identified a fatal weakness in the central defensive pairing of Thanh Chung and Van Toan. This duo was quite slow in tackling or in speed races against Tuan Tai or Peter. Admittedly, Coach Quang Truong had a rather good strategy for this match, including the personnel adjustments and the use of Van Duc as a "decoy".

Knowing that the opposing team would focus on "taking care" of Van Duc, coach Quang Truong instructed veteran Dinh Dong to proactively dribble from the central wing. On one such occasion, the SLNA captain passed the ball to Van Lam, who scored a long-range shot against Hanoi FC. If Hanoi FC hadn't successfully exploited Sy Nam's position, the visitors would have done quite well in exploiting Van Xuan's position on the home team's right wing.

Believe in the younger generation.

At the start of the match, Dinh Chau and Van Lam were constantly being tackled by veteran players like Duc Huy, Thanh Chung, and Hung Dung, but they still stood firm. Photo: Duc Anh

It must be said that the SLNA coaching staff did a very good job of psychologically preparing the young players. At the beginning of the match, Dinh Chau and Van Lam were constantly challenged by the more experienced players like Duc Huy, Thanh Chung, and Hung Dung, but they still stood firm. The two foreign players, Rimario and Omar, were neutralized by Gustavo, who dominated most of the aerial duels.

SLNA's decision to bench Alagie Sosseh allowed Peter to play with more enthusiasm. However, the foreign player's bursts of speed prevented the home team's defense from pushing further forward. To salvage a point, coach Chu Đình Nghiêm did everything he could, bringing on both Quang Hải and Việt Anh to switch to a 4-4-2 formation. But goalkeeper Văn Hoàng and the defense played brilliantly, helping the Nghệ An team keep a clean sheet for the fifth consecutive match.

What remains

Not only did SLNA secure a goal and three points to climb to the top of the league table, but the confidence of both the SLNA players and their coaches was significantly boosted after this victory. When faith is placed in the right place, Van Lam, one of the youngest players in the V.League, achieved something that no other V.League team had managed in the previous 48 matches: a win against hosts Hanoi FC. Frankly, SLNA also had a bit of luck, with the ball hitting the post once, but the victory was well-deserved, as everyone acknowledges.

It's been a long time since "Chairman Hien's children" had such a sad birthday, and SLNA was the one who spoiled it.

An Thanh