How many chances does SLNA have left at AFC Cup 2018?

Recently, FLC Thanh Hoa caused a big disappointment with a 3-3 draw against Global Cebu FC in Manila, Philippines, in the penultimate match of the group stage. With this draw, FLC Thanh Hoa lost the right to decide in the race for the second ticket in Group G to enter the knockout round. Because currently, Bali United, FLC Thanh Hoa and Global Cebu all have 5 points.

In the final match, the Thanh team will have to face the top team Yangon Utd. In theory, there is still a chance, but FLC Thanh Hoa has almost been eliminated from the continental arena. Along with that is the indignation of Vietnamese fans and Thanh fans.

All hopes of Vietnamese football fans are focused on SLNA, a team that is facing numerous difficulties in terms of performance and strength in the domestic tournament. SLNA started their AFC Cup journey with an impressive record in the first leg with a 2-0 victory in Singapore against Tampines Rovers, defeating Malaysian giants Johor DT 2-0 in Vinh Stadium and drawing 0-0 with Persija Jakatar.

With 7 points, ranking first in Group H, SLNA left half of its key players on the away trip to Persija Jakatar and lost 0-1 at the last minute. A match in which coach Duc Thang planned to keep his players for V.League and seek 1 point in Indonesia went up in smoke.

Coach Duc Thang is facing many difficult problems to solve. Photo: Hai Dang

Returning to Vinh Stadium to welcome Tampines Rovers, SLNA defeated this opponent 2-1 and continued to chase their weaker opponent Persija because the team from Jakarta crushed Johor DT 4-0 and rose to the top of the table, with the same 10 points as SLNA but the goal difference was +5 while SLNA was +4.

The situation of Group H - AFC Cup 2018 is very unpredictable, the ticket to compete directly will only come to the Nghe An team if coach Duc Thang and his team get 3 points in the away match against Johor DT in the last round and Tampines Rovers can hold Persija, who is at the top of the table.

According to the format of the AFC Cup 2018, in the 3 regional groups, the 3 top teams will directly qualify for the knockout round. The remaining ticket belongs to the second-placed team with the best record. In the worst case scenario, SLNA goes empty-handed in the final round, has 10 points and does not qualify directly, the Nghe An team still has a chance if it is the second-placed team with the best record. Currently, Home United FC (SIN) in group F and SLNA are the "most likely" for this ticket because they both have 10 points.

The chance is 50% for the Nghe An team and there is no other way, coach Nguyen Duc Thang must send out the strongest team when leaving for Malaysia on April 24. However, things are not that simple when midfielder Vo Ngoc Toan still has no return date, striker Osmar Francisco is said to be leaving SLNA soon.

The situation of Group H, AFC Cup 2018 after the penultimate round. Photo: AFC

That means SLNA will be forced to win away from home in the "handicap" of foreign players, with a seriously depleted force. The list of "reinforcements" of SLNA now, in addition to Nguyen Manh, also includes Ho Phuc Tinh, Vo Ngoc Toan, Ho Tuan Tai and Olaha Michael. This April, the Nghe An team must play 7 matches in 3 fronts: V.League, National Cup and AFC Cup 2018 with an average match density of 1 match every 4 days. That is what makes SLNA's coaching board consider and calculate.

SLNA’s performance in the domestic arena is not safe either, 4 points after 4 matches and is in the bottom group. In this situation, not playing all out in the continental tournament also puts the Nghe An team under a lot of pressure, and neglecting the V.League, the price that SLNA has to pay is very high./.

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