SLNA and the light at the end of the tunnel
(Baonghean.vn) - To finish the first phase of V.League 2020 with a position in the top 8, coach Ngo Quang Truong and his team must defeat Hai Phong and hope that their direct opponents do not have positive results.
After the 12th round, the penultimate round of the first phase of V.League 2020, the Nghe An team is struggling in 10th place, with 15 points and a goal difference of -4. Currently, SLNA is only 1 point ahead of Thanh Hoa (ranked 11th) and behind Hong Linh Ha Tinh (ranked 9th), SHB Da Nang (ranked 8th), HAGL (ranked 7th), B.Binh Duong (ranked 6th) in goal difference, 1 point, 2 points and 2 points respectively.
Although the gap is very fragile, the chance of getting into the top 8 for coach Ngo Quang Truong and his team is quite small. Simply, SLNA does not have the right to decide. To be in the group of 8 teams competing for the championship in the second phase, Phan Van Duc and his teammates must both fight with Hai Phong and wait for the results of the 4 teams mentioned above in the matches at the same time.
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| SLNA players are gaining confidence after the victory over HAGL. Photo: Xuan Thuy |
Thus, SLNA can only finish the first phase with a position in the top 8, if they simultaneously possess 2 possibilities: Coach Ngo Quang Truong and his team achieve the desired result against Hai Phong and 2/4 of the opponents right above them stumble. Objectively assessed, neither possibility is likely to happen.
Firstly, to defeat Hai Phong right at Lach Tray Stadium is an extremely heavy task for the Nghe An team. In the last 11 visits to the port city, SLNA won 2, drew 5 and lost 4. In the first leg of V.League 2019, the two teams drew 0 - 0. Lach Tray Stadium is always considered a "dangerous place" for SLNA.
Currently, Hai Phong is much stronger with the presence of Diego Fagan, Mac Hong Quan and Nghiem Xuan Tu in the squad, supported by Than Quang Ninh. Not to mention, Nguyen Van Toan and his teammates are also trying to find their first home win of this year's season. So don't be too quick to think that Hai Phong will give up because they no longer have a chance to enter the top 8.
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| SLNA's first task is to defeat Hai Phong (red shirt) right at Lach Tray stadium. Photo: VPF |
Second, even if SLNA meets the necessary condition of defeating Hai Phong, even by a large margin, they still have to pray that their direct opponents do not achieve the desired results. For example, Hong Linh Ha Tinh and SHB Da Nang do not win or HAGL and B.Binh Duong both lose. It is difficult to make it come true.
The reason for saying so is because the opponents of Hong Linh Ha Tinh (Quang Nam), SHB Da Nang (Nam Dinh), HAGL (HCMC Club) and B.Binh Duong (Viettel) are just teams that have run out of goals. Apart from SHB Da Nang, the remaining 3 teams all play at home.
In short, if both necessary and sufficient conditions are met, SLNA will "slip through the narrow door" to participate in phase 2 of V.League 2020 with a comfortable mentality. Unfortunately, in addition to the task of achieving positive results against Hai Phong, coach Ngo Quang Truong and his team must also hope for luck and professionalism from teams such as Viettel, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City Club, Nam Dinh, and Quang Nam.
Not being able to decide their own fate is a very regrettable thing for SLNA./.
