SLNA - hard defense, blunt attack

An Thanh• May 3, 2019 08:05

(Baonghean.vn) - No one understands the Nghe An team better than its own fans. Our statistics and professional analysis will help SLNA's coaching staff and players better understand their strengths and weaknesses.

With only 5 goals conceded, SLNA's defense is in the top 3 teams with the most solid defense in V.League 2019 (after Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City). The attack has only scored 7 goals, just more than Viettel and Nam Dinh who have only scored 6 goals.

Thus, the 3rd place in the V.League 2019 rankings is due to a solid defense rather than an effective attack. The fact that in round 6, SLNA's attack was powerless against the visiting team Nam Dinh, who is currently identified as a candidate for relegation this season, is the most concrete proof.

Defense and counterattack

Olaha is one of the players with the most playing minutes in SLNA. Photo: Document

Of the 7 goals scored, 5 (71.9%) were scored at Vinh Stadium, 2 (28.1%) were scored at Hoa Xuan Stadium in a 2-0 win over SHB.Da Nang. Thus, in 3 away matches, the Nghe team only scored 1 match (33.3%) and 2 matches did not score (66.7%). In 4 home matches, SLNA won 3 (75%) and drew 1 match (25%), showing that the Nghe team is one of the teams with the best home record in V.League 2019.

With 3 goals scored from the 16th to the 30th minute and 2 goals scored from the 31st to the 45th minute, it shows that SLNA's attack often takes a lot of time to probe the opponent. In 7 matches, Nghe An players have never scored in the first 15 minutes of each half. The fact that only 1 goal was scored from the 75th to the 90th minute shows that if they lose to Nghe An, they will face difficulties.

SLNA (yellow) is in good form every time they play at Vinh Stadium. Photo: Archive

On the contrary, if the opponent can defend in the first 45 minutes, SLNA will have difficulty scoring. Vo Ngoc Toan had an assist after being put on the field, but it was not enough to be classified as a "luxury reserve" as praised. Coach Duc Thang's substitution plans mainly focused on strengthening the defense rather than changing the attack's playing style.

Of the 7 goals scored, Coach Duc Thang's players only had 1 proactive and methodical attack, 3 goals from counter-attacks, and 3 goals from set pieces (1 penalty, 2 corners). This explains why, although SLNA had difficulty at home against teams with large defenses like Nam Dinh, they played brilliantly away against SHB.Da Nang. When the opponent accepted to play an open game, SLNA's attack had a chance to perform.

Currently, coach Duc Thang does not have many "drillers" to penetrate the opponent's multi-layered defense. Quang Tinh no longer has the necessary stretch or physical strength to continuously perform technical moves, The Cuong only shows his value when there is space. The combination of Phuc Tinh and Olaha or Olaha and Dos Santos lacks creativity and surprise, so it is easy for the opponent to predict.

Proud of the defense

Quang Tình đã không còn đủ thể lực để thực hiện liên tiếp các động tác kỹ thuật (ảnh VPF)

Quang Tinh no longer has enough physical strength to perform consecutive technical moves. Photo: VPF

Of the 5 goals conceded, SLNA lost 4 at Hang Day Stadium and 1 at Vinh Stadium. Keeping a clean sheet in 5 out of 7 matches has confirmed that defense is the strength of the Nghe An team this season. The appearance ofcenter backSerbian Damir Memović and left-back Dinh Dong along with goalkeeper Nguyen Manh's recovery are considered the main reasons for the significant changes in the Vinh team's defense.

So far, they have only conceded 2/5 goals in matches where the opponent controlled the ball and pressed before scoring. The remaining 3 goals were from set pieces (including 1 penalty) and no goals were conceded due to counter-attacks, proving that SLNA defenders played very well in both zonal defense and man-to-man marking.

SLNA players get to play relaxing games like throwing balls. Photo courtesy of Duc Anh

The fact that 4/5 goals were conceded by Hanoi strikers, a team with superior skills in the V.League, shows that SLNA's defense, although not yet impregnable, is a source of pride and a pillar for the Nghe An team's style of play. That allowed coach Duc Thang to boldly promote Xuan Manh, after his injury, to the midfield to add a new attacking option.