Quang Nam FC - SLNA: Mission impossible

(Baonghean.vn) - Traveling to Tam Ky stadium for a rematch with the home team Quang Nam FC, coach Nguyen Duc Thang and his team brought with them the "capital" of a 4-1 victory over their opponent in the first leg.

Entering this season, the team led by coach Hoang Van Phuc has shown its great ambition, by changing its name from QNK Quang Nam to Quang Nam FC. In addition, the team at Tam Ky Stadium is also among the TOP of Vietnamese football.

In addition to the national team duo Dinh Thanh Trung - Nguyen Huy Hung, faces like Phan Thanh Hung, Ha Minh Tuan, Thiago, Dai Duong, Claudecir... are familiar to domestic football fans.

When the leaders "gave the green light", coach Hoang Van Phuc and his team had no reason not to play with all their might. And the results came to Quang Nam FC. Currently, the Tam Ky home team is temporarily ranked 3rd on the V.League 2017 rankings with 35 points after 20 rounds, equal to the 2nd place team Hanoi FC and only 1 point behind the leading team FLC Thanh Hoa.

With the form of Dinh Thanh Trung and his teammates in recent times, Quang Nam FC is a strong candidate for the championship title.

In the National Cup, the Quang Nam team also played impressively. They defeated the tough opponent Hai Phong, then defeated XSKT. Can Tho, coach Hoang Van Phuc and his team reached the semi-finals. The Tam Ky team did not hide their goal of winning the championship cup.

However, the crushing 1-4 defeat at Vinh Stadium against SLNA has put Quang Nam FC in a difficult position in the return match. To be present in the final, Dinh Thanh Trung and his teammates must overcome SLNA with a 3-0 victory or a 4-goal difference. This is almost impossible.

A ball fight between the two teams in the first leg at Vinh Stadium. Photo: Tram Uyen

Because the opponent - SLNA is in quite good form recently. Since the 2017 season resumed after a break for the Vietnam U22 team to participate in the 29th SEA Games, the Nghe An team has won 3, drawn 1 and lost 1, through 5 matches in 2 arenas (V.League, National Cup).

The attack line with the excellence of Phi Son, Olaha... is making all opponents extremely afraid. The playing style of the Vinh home team has become more cohesive and rhythmic, creating a solid machine.

Meanwhile, the defense played more solidly and tightly than before, with the coordination, alertness and excellence of Van Khanh, Ngoc Hai and especially goalkeeper Nguyen Manh. In the last 4 matches, SLNA only conceded 1 goal (Dinh Thanh Trung's successful penalty kick in the first leg of the semi-final).

A defense that often played like sleepwalkers at the beginning of the season suddenly became surprisingly solid and alert. Scoring the net against the Nghe An team at this time is not easy at all.

Center back Van Khanh is playing quite well in SLNA's defense. Photo: Tram Uyen

Just look at the way coach Nguyen Duc Thang's students neutralized Do Merlo, Kurtaj (SHB Da Nang), Anh Duc, Pereira (B.Binh Duong), Cruz, Marcelo (Sai ​​Gon FC) or Dai Duong, Claudecir (Quang Nam FC). It is difficult to catch goalkeeper Nguyen Manh picking the ball out of the net once, let alone 4-5 times.

Not only that, SLNA players are also better than the home team Quang Nam FC in terms of mentality. The big win in the first leg will help Phi Son and his teammates feel completely comfortable mentally. With the pressure removed, their minds will be more clear and their legs will be much more agile.

In short, coach Hoang Van Phuc and his team are very strong and very eager for revenge, but to successfully reverse the situation against SLNA in the second leg, thereby winning a ticket to the final, is almost impossible./.

Thanh Hung