The regrets of Song Lam Nghe An after their loss to Hanoi Police.

Hanoi police demonstrate superior performance.

The defeat against Hanoi Police at Hang Day Stadium was not unexpected by many. When a team firmly at the top of the table faces a team with a depleted squad, the disparity is easily noticeable. However, if we look closely at how the match unfolded, Song Lam Nghe An still had moments that made their opponents wary.

From the first half, the game was largely decided. Hanoi Police controlled the ball for 62% of the time, taking 10 shots compared to Song Lam Nghe An's 4, and also had a superior number of passes with 281 compared to 166. These numbers clearly reflect the home team's dominance, but also show that the visitors were not completely outmatched, as they still created significant opportunities despite being under pressure.

Without rushing into the game, Hanoi Police still showed the difference of a top team. They played fluid football, coordinated well, and delivered spontaneous touches to punish their opponents. Three goals in the first half, with a brace from Dinh Bac and a goal from Minh Phuc, demonstrated Hanoi Police's superior class.

Dinh Bac continues to be the brightest spot in the attack. Not only does he move intelligently, but the young striker also shows composure in his finishing. In a well-organized system, supported by quality players like Quang Hai and Van Do, Dinh Bac has all the conditions to fully showcase his qualities.

After the match, coach Van Sy Son also acknowledged the opponent's superiority: "Not only Song Lam Nghe An, but most teams in the V.League face a lot of difficulties when playing against Hanoi Police. They are a strong team, different from the rest of the league."

Not only did Hanoi Police have superior players, but they also demonstrated consistency in their playing style. They were able to build up play from the back, control the midfield, and create continuous pressure on both flanks. Maintaining a 58% possession rate throughout the match showed their consistent initiative, even when leading by a comfortable margin.

It's clear that there's a significant difference in skill between the two teams. When Hanoi Police needed to increase the tempo, they easily did so. However, when they needed to slow down, they knew how to control the game, preventing their opponents from turning the tide. This shows that Hanoi Police possesses all the qualities a V.League champion should have.

There are still regrets for Song Lam Nghe An.

Despite the defeat, Song Lam Nghe An has reason to feel regret. On a day when many key players were absent, especially in the defense, the team from Nghe An still started the game quite confidently and created situations that could have been converted into goals.

In the 29th minute, following a well-executed central midfield combination, Fortes set up Dale Moore for a shot that forced goalkeeper Nguyen Filip to make a save. The ball rebounded perfectly to Quang Vinh in an open position, but the midfielder unfortunately shot over the crossbar. That was a moment where, if they had capitalized, Song Lam Nghe An could have easily equalized and changed the course of the match.

Not only that, after Olaha's goal to reduce the deficit, Song Lam Nghe An still had quite a few opportunities to score. But they were all missed, because Song Lam Nghe An still lacked a bit of finesse, composure, and decisiveness to make a difference.

Coach Van Sy Son also frankly acknowledged: "We had opportunities to score, but we couldn't capitalize on them. If we had done better in finishing, the outcome of the match could have been different. That's something the players need to improve, especially in terms of match experience."

In fact, Song Lam Nghe An's biggest weakness in this match lies not only in their squad but also in their experience. When facing a big team like Hanoi Police, they need to play more tenaciously, calmly, and above all, understand their own capabilities to choose the appropriate playing style.

However, the fighting spirit of the Nghe An team is undeniable. Despite the difficult circumstances, the young players still played with high determination, refusing to give up even when trailing. This is something that coach Van Sy Son himself highly appreciated: “Our players played very hard, with a very good fighting spirit, but lacked experience at crucial moments.”

This defeat did not change Song Lam Nghe An's ranking in the standings. The 11-point gap with the bottom group remains a significant advantage. But as coach Van Sy Son himself shared, the road ahead is still full of challenges: "There are still 6 rounds left in the tournament. Although we have created an 11-point gap with the bottom group, that's still not enough to say we're safe. We will have to continue to strive in every remaining match."

The defeat against Hanoi Police was not entirely unexpected. The important thing is that Song Lam Nghe An needs to quickly regain its momentum and stabilize its form to continue its journey towards securing early relegation survival this season.

Duc Anh