What does SLNA need to do to quench its 'thirst' for goals?

After Quang Tinh's goal in the 90+1 minute at Hoa Xuan Stadium, SLNA's strikers have been silent for 3 consecutive matches. Among their 3 opponents, only Hai Phong is in the top half of the rankings, Nam Dinh and rookie Viettel are both rated much lower. SLNA's attack is currently rated as poor in the V.League, only better than Viettel and equal to S.Khanh Hoa.

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Xuan Manh playing as a striker with Olaha is not a bad solution. Photo: VPF

To be fair, except for the goalless draw against the visiting team Nam Dinh, earning 2 points when leaving Vinh Stadium of coach Duc Thang and his team is not a bad result. But 3 consecutive matches only earning 3 points, not scoring any goals, SLNA's current form is only better than S. Khanh Hoa (lost all 3 matches), Quang Nam (2 losses, 1 draw) and Nam Dinh (2 draws, 1 loss), which are the teams at the bottom of the rankings.

In the match at Lach Tray Stadium, Coach Duc Thang boldly took off Van Binh, put in Phuc Tinh to replace Alves Santos, and The Nhat was pushed out to play left back. Using the wings Xuan Manh and Cao Xuan Thang to replace Quang Tinh and Le The Cuong is considered to renew the wing play of the Nghe An team. A new formation is to ensure the goal of not losing rather than earning 3 points when leaving the field.

Audiences who are familiar with the Nghe An team all believe that these are positive changes by the SLNA coaching staff when facing an opponent with a rather unpleasant playing style. Coach Duc Thang has chosen the players with the best physical condition to enter the field, midfielder Van Binh, who played 700/720 minutes for the Nghe An team in this match, was not registered.

In fact, the central midfield duo Khac Ngoc - Ngoc Toan played quite well in this match. They separated Lam Quy and Hoang Nam from coordinating with Jermie Lynch, Mpande and Fagan. Obviously, with abundant physical strength, Cao Xuan Thang also supported Dinh Hoang better in defense, when coach Truong Viet Hoang chose that as the main attack direction.

Standing outside the field, coach Duc Thang clearly saw that Olaha was too lonely in the role of center forward when Xuan Thang, Xuan Manh and Phuc Tinh were too low. Center back Van Hanh or A.Schmidt had no difficulty in neutralizing the Nghe team's attacks. SLNA's attacking pressure was not significant, the team had a small force of players so the home team did not encounter many difficulties, except for the situation of a set-piece kick by Khac Ngoc for Xuan Manh to head into the post.

Situational solution

Olaha is lonely in attack. Photo: VPF

Putting The Cuong in to replace Phuc Tinh and pushing Xuan Manh up to play as striker with Olaha is a situational solution that is considered creative in tactics. In the attacking cards in the hands of coach Duc Thang, all lacking the necessary creativity and innovation, the presence of Xuan Manh, who is only a winger (in the position of midfielder and defender) is noteworthy. In fact, in the 3 phases of the ball hitting the goal throughout the match, Xuan Manh's header hitting the post was the most dangerous.

Having just returned from injury, having to play on a rough field, and a very strange opponent, often making mistakes, Xuan Manh did not have many attacks that matched his ability. But that was enough to make Xuan Manh the best player on the attack line of the SLNA team, even though he did not score a goal.

Returning home to face S. Khanh Hoa, who are in poor form, losing 3 consecutive matches. The away team's defense has conceded 19 goals and the only team that has not scored against them is... Hanoi. This is a good opportunity for SLNA to experiment with many attacking options and Xuan Manh playing as a striker with Olaha is not a bad solution.

Pham Xuan Manh could not help SLNA defeat Hai Phong.

(Baonghean.vn) - The match at Lach Tray between Hai Phong and Song Lam Nghe An witnessed the balance between the two teams. During the entire 90 minutes of the match, the most dangerous move came from an aerial situation by Xuan Manh.