SLNA suffers second consecutive defeat.
(Baonghean.vn) -Despite fielding their strongest team and fighting until the very last second, due to an unlucky afternoon against a highly determined and outstanding opponent, Coach Huu Thang's team had to accept their second defeat.
Entering this afternoon's match (May 11th), the home team Thanh Hoa is on a five-match winless streak, while the visiting team SLNA has just suffered its first defeat. Hoping for a positive result to boost morale, both Thanh Hoa and SLNA started the game with great determination.
In the opening minutes of the match, the game was fairly balanced, with both teams mainly contesting the ball in the midfield. From the 15th minute onwards, the pace of the game gradually increased. SLNA took the initiative in their play and began launching quick attacks on the home team's goal. Numerous scoring opportunities for SLNA were missed by Trong Hoang, Plaza, and Kavin.
Not wanting to be outdone by SLNA, coach Mai Duc Chung instructed his players to push forward. With the aggressive play of striker Abass (a player who previously played for SLNA in the 2012 season), the SLNA defense had to work quite hard. Without the excellent performance of goalkeeper Nguyen Manh, SLNA would have struggled to keep a clean sheet throughout the first half.
Striker Kavin had a brilliant performance and scored a goal for SLNA.
But Plaza missed too many scoring opportunities.
Entering the second half, both teams continued to exchange attacks. Striker Abass continued to create chances that disrupted the SLNA defense. In the 54th minute, receiving a through pass from a teammate, Abass made a spectacular dribble past three SLNA defenders before unleashing a shot into the near corner to score the opening goal for the home team.
While the home crowd was cheering after the opening goal, the visiting team SLNA immediately responded. After a beautiful combination play, Kavin unleashed a powerful shot that beat goalkeeper Tô Vĩnh Lợi, leveling the score at 1-1.
The match became increasingly intense. Players from both teams continuously engaged in fierce ball contests. Both teams' goals were constantly under threat. On the SLNA side, striker Plaza was ineffective in his finishing attempts and coach Huu Thang brought on Ngoc Hai as a substitute. In the 64th minute, goalkeeper Nguyen Manh had to make a full-stretch save for SLNA after a powerful shot from foreign player Nastja Ceh. In the 67th minute, from a cross by Ceh, the ball deflected off an SLNA defender's leg, and Xuan Tu scored with a rebound to give the home team a 2-1 lead.
After this goal, the Thanh Hoa team retreated deep into their own half to protect the score. The SLNA players continuously increased the pressure on the home team's goal.
Cong Vinh and the SLNA players entered the match with great determination.
In the 72nd minute, Cong Vinh took a dangerous free kick, and To Vinh Loi needed two attempts to catch the ball. In the 90+1 minute, Hector put the ball into the net, but the referee raised the flag for offside. Despite their efforts until the very last second, the Nghe An players were unable to convert their opportunities into goals and accepted their second consecutive away defeat.
Defensive lapses led to SLNA's stumble and their second defeat.
Despite this defeat, SLNA maintains its top position in the league, but the gap has been narrowed by the teams behind them. Coach Huu Thang's players have revealed weaknesses in their defense. They consistently struggle to keep up with foreign players and defend against set-piece situations. To avoid losing points unnecessarily, the Nghe An team needs to strengthen their defense in a timely manner!
Duc Dung
