SLNA - Saigon: The top is calling

Welcoming coach Phan Van Tai Em and his team in this round, SLNA will have their 4th consecutive match played right at the "fire pan of Vinh city". This is something that has never happened in the history of V.League, even in national championships around the world (it is rare for a team to play 3 consecutive matches on 1 field).

According to the schedule of the V.League 2018 Organizing Committee, after the match with Hai Phong (round 13), coach Nguyen Duc Thang and his team must travel to Thu Dau Mot to visit B.Binh Duong (round 14), then return to Vinh Stadium to welcome XSKT Can Tho (round 15) and Saigon FC (round 16).

However, the home team B.Binh Duong requested the Organizing Committee to change the match venue (for security reasons), so Vinh Stadium was chosen to host the match B.Binh Duong - SLNA. Therefore, the Nghe An team was able to play at the "fire pan of Vinh city" for 4 consecutive matches.

In the previous round, SLNA defeated XSKT Can Tho with a score of 1 - 0.Photo: Duc Anh

Not missing the opportunity, Que Ngoc Hai and his teammates took advantage of the home field to defeat Hai Phong (1-0), B.Binh Duong (2-1) and XSKT Can Tho (1-0). From the second to last position on the rankings (after the 12th round), SLNA climbed to 10th place. The most difficult period has temporarily passed for coach Nguyen Duc Thang and his team.

With 17 points, SLNA is 4 points ahead of the “danger zone” and 1 win behind the TOP 7 (HAGL has 20 points and is ranked 7th). If they can get positive results in the next rounds, the Nghe An team will be in the middle of the rankings. The match with Saigon FC is an opportunity for coach Nguyen Duc Thang and his team to do that.

The team from the city named after Uncle Ho is a "good" opponent for Que Ngoc Hai and his teammates at the moment. In addition to the advantage of playing at home, SLNA is also in better form than Saigon FC.

While the Nghe An team won 3 consecutive matches against Hai Phong, B.Binh Duong and XSKT Can Tho, coach Phan Van Tai Em and his team lost 2 (Nam Dinh, HAGL) and won 1 (Hanoi FC) in the last 3 matches.

In the first leg between the two teams, Saigon FC (pink shirt) was the winning team.Photo: Saigon Club

One very notable detail is that SLNA is playing well at home, while Saigon FC is often playing poorly away from home. Up to now, Le Hoang Thien and his teammates have not won any matches away from Thong Nhat Stadium in V.League 2018 (lost 4, drew 3).

Having to play as guests of SLNA, defeat is waiting for coach Phan Van Tai Em and his team. In the two trips to Vinh Stadium (V.League 2016 and V.League 2017), Saigon FC had to return empty-handed.

Although SLNA will not have the service of "conductor" Ho Khac Ngoc (suspended) in the upcoming match, the home team is still rated much higher than the away team. Especially, coach Nguyen Duc Thang will welcome the return of Phan Van Duc and Hoang Van Binh. Victory is unlikely to escape the hands of Que Ngoc Hai and his teammates./.