SHB.DN - SLNA (2-2): The spirit of "warriors"

SLNA's coaching staff made a fairly correct decision when leaving Osmar on the bench, arranging the team in the same formation as the first leg of the National Cup quarter-final at Hoa Xuan Stadium. The away team played quite low to pull the home team's defenders up high, leaving the gap between the goalkeeper and the central defenders for Tuan Tai and Van Duc to exploit. This style of play made SLNA's squad more crowded in the midfield.

Old book re-edited

The first goal conceded by Olaha was considered an “accident” when this striker dropped deep to participate in defending the high ball, the ball hit his foot and accidentally gave the home team a beautiful goal. Both goals of SLNA came from the right wing.

The curved pass from right midfielder Cao Xuan Thang made goalkeeper Van Hung hesitate, giving his teammate Van Duc enough time to accelerate and score. It was exactly the same pass that Xuan Thang had just made last month in the National Cup.

Both Olaha and Van Duc had a pretty good match. Photo: D.Nhan

When Xuan Thang left the field, Tuan Tai, in his move to the right wing, helped Khac Ngoc, in his rare time wearing the captain's armband, score his first goal in V-League 2018. The assist was right on the move from the second line, and although the ball was close to his feet, Ho Khac Ngoc showed the class of a national team player in his neat handling.

Not just 2 goals, but people have seen the attacking tactics, the attacking arrangements of the Nghe An team's strikers. Although not playing much, Cao Xuan Thang showed that he is a good partner on the opposite wing with Van Duc.

Playing in the rain, on a slippery field and with a wet ball took a lot of energy from the Nghe An players, especially players who had to play continuously like Van Duc and Olaha. The central midfielders Khac Ngoc and Sy Sam blocked Diogo and Do Merlo very well.

Do Merlo's equalizer 2-2, according to our observation, this naturalized player was offside before shooting into Vu Hai's net from close range. Young center back Van Khanh, with the headband on his head is a symbol of the determined fighting spirit of young SLNA players in a difficult period.

If Tuan Tai had handled better the situation where referee Phuong Nam awarded SLNA a penalty when defender Duc Le fouled substitute player Xuan Toan, the joy would have been more complete.

In a match, both sides played fiercely but the referee only gave 1 yellow card to Do Merlo and 2nd yellow card to defender Ewode. With more than 10 minutes of playing with one more player, SLNA only created 1 situation where the ball hit the goal post of the home team Da Nang.

As usual, SHB.Da Nang captain Ha Minh Tam is always the one who ignites the arguments on the field. If assistant Huy Hoang had not entered the field, it is very likely that the two teams would have had a collision because SLNA's Manh Hung is not an easy player to bully.

Improved morale

With 1 point at Hoa Xuan Stadium, meanwhile, the home team Saigon unexpectedly lost 0-1 to their opponent Hai Phong, making the gap between SLNA and Mr. Dai's team 1 point.

Nghe An audiences braved the rain to come to Hoa Xuan stadium to cheer for SLNA. Photo: D.Nhan

SLNA has just scored their 8th goal in away matches from Vinh Stadium, so they are full of spirit as they prepare to land at Thong Nhat Stadium in the most important match of the first leg, escaping the play-off spot. Up to this point, SLNA has played better away than at home.

With their spirits raised after the draw with SHB.Da Nang, the Nghe An “warriors” will be much more confident when facing Saigon. Surely, the Southern Nghe An audience will come to Thong Nhat Stadium to actively cheer for the team split match of coach Duc Thang and his team.