Saigon vs SLNA, 7:00 p.m. June 9: SLNA optimistic, home team in trouble

On the rankings, Saigon FC, led by coach Phan Van Tai Em, has only 1 win, 4 draws and 6 losses after 11 matches played, only 1 point behind SLNA. Currently, the three bottom teams, SLNA, Saigon and Nam Dinh, are the teams with the fewest wins. However, the Nghe An team is still considered to be completely superior to its opponents.

The problem of the midfield wings

Before this match, SLNA suffered a big loss in the absence of midfielder Phan Van Duc, the player with the most stable performance since the beginning of the season with 5 goals. Along with that, the possibility of Cao Xuan Thang playing is still uncertain. However, SLNA's defense welcomed the return of captain Que Ngoc Hai. And in the immediate future, the ability to prevent high balls of the Nghe An team will be guaranteed.

Phan Van Duc cannot compete in round 12. Photo: VPF

Without Phan Van Duc, SLNA will have more difficulty in organizing attacks. The U23 Vietnam player has the ability to move flexibly, hold the ball and cause surprises when entering the penalty area. That is something that the remaining reserve players such as Ngo Xuan Toan, Le The Cuong or Phu Nguyen do not have.

In such a situation, SLNA's coaching staff will likely be forced to use Pham Xuan Manh as an attacking midfielder. This means that Manh Hung will play as a left-back. Another option that is not at all optimal is to use Olaha Michael as a winger so that Osmar Francisco and Tuan Tai can play as center forwards.

Homeowners in trouble

Not only SLNA lost troops, in this round, the host Saigon also missed two important players, Nguyen Tien Duy and Nguyen Xuan Duong, because they had received enough cards. Tien Duy is currently a mainstay in the defense, while Xuan Duong is also the player who has played the most since the beginning of the season in the midfield.

However, what SLNA’s defense needs to pay attention to is foreign player D. Da Sylva and striker Le Hoang Thien. Saigon’s foreign striker has 2 goals but Hoang Thien has the same scoring record as SLNA’s Phan Van Duc (5 goals).

Saigon FC is having many changes. Photo: VPF

In the last 5 matches, if SLNA won 1, drew 2 and lost 2, Saigon had 3 losses and 2 draws. At home this season, coach Tai Em and his team have lost to Than Quang Ninh, Ho Chi Minh City, Can Tho and Hai Phong. The home team's only win was a 3-1 victory over HAGL.

Meanwhile, SLNA, despite losing a lot, often plays well when playing away. Coach Duc Thang and his team successfully held teams like XSKT Can Tho, Quang Nam and Da Nang to a draw, lost to FLC Thanh Hoa, HAGL and defeated Ho Chi Minh City 2-0.

SLNA is optimistic

Coming to Thong Nhat to be a guest with the support of about 7,000 Nghe An fans, SLNA certainly does not want to play as an underdog. From the stands will bring confidence and inspiration to coach Duc Thang and his team. And the quality of the away team is completely superior to that of Saigon FC. However, if SLNA's coaching staff plays a preemptive strike against Saigon FC, the possibility of success depends too much on the current form of Olaha, Tuan Tai and Osmar.

Objectively speaking, the performance of the two foreign players Olaha and Osmar in V.League is really a big problem for coach Duc Thang. Olaha has scored 2 goals but is still too unlucky in front of goal, while Osmar still has to compete for a starting position with Ho Tuan Tai.

SLNA often plays well at Thong Nhat. Photo: Hoang Tung

In addition, like SLNA, Saigon is a team that does not have stability in goal this season. Tong Duc An and Pham Van Phong take turns as the main goalkeeper for the home team, but Saigon still conceded 20 goals. On the other side of the front line, Phan Dinh Vu Hai was continuously given opportunities and partly helped the Nghe An team concede only 14 goals. However, whether SLNA can keep a clean sheet or not depends too much on the defensive ability of the defenders and the ability of Vu Hai to come and go.

Van Duc's absence is a big loss, but it is also an opportunity for other supporting actors to show themselves, and at the same time show the ability of coach Duc Thang to command troops. Saigon FC is currently the weakest team in V.League, only getting 1 point at Thong Nhat is a disaster, not to mention empty-handed.

If SLNA plays with the same spirit as the match against SHB Da Nang, three points against direct rival Saigon is a highly feasible task. The important thing is the concentration of the players, because in the first leg, they more or less showed subjectivity./

Is Song Lam Nghe An 'dependent' on Phan Van Duc?

(Baonghean.vn) - The goal against the home team Quang Nam FC on May 20 was the 4th goal of the midfielder born in 1996 for SLNA in V.League 2018.