Conditions for SLNA to safely finish after phase I - V.League 2020
(Baonghean.vn) - With 12 points after 11 matches, SLNA is in the high-risk group of having to compete for relegation in V.League. However, if they win 2 remaining matches of the first leg, the Nghe team still has a chance.
According to the classification method, at the end of phase I (first leg), the top 8 teams in group A will compete for medals. The bottom 6 teams will compete for relegation. At this time, after 11 rounds of V.League 2020, SLNA has 12 points after 11 matches with only 3 wins, 3 draws and 5 losses, with a goal difference of -6.
This is not the poorest performance of SLNA in recent years in the first leg. In V.League 2018, Que Ngoc Hai and his teammates only had 2 wins, 5 draws, 6 losses, ending the first leg with 11 points and standing in 12th place.
However, after that, coach Nguyen Duc Thang and his team strongly recovered in the second phase and stood in 4th place with 42 points thanks to a record of 8 consecutive wins in the second leg. This season, that miracle will happen because V.League 2020 changed the competition format. SLNA's mandatory task now is to finish the first phase in a safe position, in the top 8.
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| Song Lam Nghe An has only won 3 matches this season. Photo: TK |
Currently, the Nghe An team only has 2 more matches to close phase I. Expectedly, one match is against HAGL at home and the other is against Hai Phong away. With the return of a series of pillars such as Van Khanh, Dinh Dong, Xuan Manh, SLNA still has the ability to win all 6 points.
Currently on the V.League 2020 rankings, HAGL has 17 points, a goal difference of 0, ranked 6th; B. Binh Duong is ranked 7th with 16 points, a goal difference of +6; Thanh Hoa Club is ranked 8th with 14 points, a goal difference of -4; SHB Da Nang Club has 13 points, but the difference is +4; HL Ha Tinh also has 12 points like SLNA and a difference of 0, an advantage over SLNA with a difference of -6.
In case of only 1 win (3 points) in the next 2 matches, SLNA will only have 15 points. This score, combined with a very low goal difference, SLNA cannot compete for a position in the group of 8 teams, determined to play relegation.
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| V.League 2020 rankings after round 11. Photo: VPF |
In case of winning 4 points (1 win, 1 draw) in the next 2 matches, SLNA will have 16 points. This position cannot guarantee safety for the Nghe team and must depend on the conditions of other teams' stumbles.
At this time, SLNA's advantage is that they have a good head-to-head record against B. Binh Duong or SHB Da Nang but are inferior in goal difference compared to teams they have drawn with such as Thanh Hoa and HL Ha Tinh.
In case of winning 6 maximum points (1 win, 1 draw), SLNA will have 18 points. This is a result that requires great effort and will certainly help coach Ngo Quang Truong and his team overcome a series of direct competitors for a position in the top 8.
In the next two matches, B. Binh Duong will visit Than Quang Ninh and Viettel. Meanwhile, Thanh Hoa FC will meet HL Ha Tinh and Hanoi FC respectively. And after the important match with Thanh Hoa, HL Ha Tinh will play against Quang Nam FC - the team currently at the bottom of the table.
It is a very favorable schedule and situation for SLNA and the Nghe An team needs to know how to seize the opportunity, ensuring both wins and scoring many goals to improve the secondary coefficient.
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