Defender Hoang Van Khanh reveals the secret to "shutting down" Nam Dinh's striker who is over 2 meters tall.
Following their victory against Nam Dinh, center-back Hoang Van Khanh revealed that Song Lam Nghe An had carefully analyzed their playing style, thereby neutralizing the visiting team's foreign striker, who is over 2 meters tall.
In contrast to Nam Dinh's high spirits, Song Lam Nghe An has had a challenging start to the new season. A 1-2 defeat against PVF-CAND in the opening round has left coach Phan Nhu Thuat's team facing numerous problems. A lack of concentration in the defense, coupled with frequent individual errors, has become a fatal weakness. Therefore, the match against Nam Dinh at Vinh Stadium on August 23rd is considered a real test for the team.
However, Song Lam Nghe An played a great game, with two stunning goals from Ngo Van Luong and foreign player Reon Dale Moore securing a thrilling 2-1 victory, earning the team three valuable points.
Speaking after the match, center-back Hoang Van Khanh shared: “Right now, we are very happy. We entered the game with high determination. The whole team remained highly focused until the very last moment, and today's result is completely deserved.”
Speaking about how they neutralized the over 2-meter-tall foreign striker from Nam Dinh, Van Khanh said: “Before the match, we held a meeting and analyzed the situation very carefully. The coach demanded that the whole team maintain the highest level of concentration and not be careless. He was indeed too tall, beyond the reach of Vietnamese players, but we had a suitable plan and successfully completed the task.”
The 1995-born central defender also commented on the integration of Song Lam Nghe An's foreign players: "They haven't fully integrated yet, but they are working very hard in every training session. I believe that in the upcoming matches they will perform better and make the team stronger."
Commenting on the significance of the victory, Van Khanh emphasized: “The first win, and right on home ground, has given the whole team a lot more confidence. This is a morale boost for us to play our best in the upcoming rounds. Song Lam Nghe An's goal this season is to reach the Top 10.”
Following this match, Song Lam Nghe An will face a challenging away game against Hai Phong on August 27th. This will be another important test for coach Phan Nhu Thuat's team as they strive to prove themselves in the new season.