Song Lam Nghe An: 3 expectations for the opening match

Song Lam Nghe An had high expectations for their opening match. Photo: Internet

Goalkeeper Van Hung is no stranger to fans in Nghe An province, having been part of the SLNA team for several seasons. However, Van Hung has mostly been a reserve player, only appearing twice in the 2017 V-League season. He replaced captain Tran Nguyen Manh, who suffered a broken arm in the opening match of the 2018 AFC Cup against Tampines Rovers, before suffering a muscle strain that sidelined him for both matches against Persija Jakarta (first and second legs).

In the few times he's been given the opportunity to play, the 1.80m tall goalkeeper has performed quite well technically; the main thing is that he needs to maintain his mental stability in this crucial early-season match.

In several AFC Cup matches, Van Hung appeared hesitant in handling high crosses from the opposing team. His return to wearing gloves will undoubtedly keep many fans at Vinh Stadium on edge. Certainly, the visiting team will frequently cross the ball into the home team's 5.5-meter area. Coach Vo Dinh Tan and foreign player Toure will be very concerned about this, and center-backs Van Khanh and Ngoc Hai will need to provide more support to the goalkeeper.

Dinh Hoang is gradually regaining his form. Photo: Internet

From December 2016, SLNA sent Dinh Hoang to Gleneagles Hospital (Singapore) for surgery to treat a torn meniscus, but it took him more than a year to recover from the injury.

SLNA's coaching staff has been very careful in helping Dinh Hoang get used to the pitch. In the first leg match against Persija Jakarta, the right-back only came on for the last few minutes. In the return match at Persija Jakarta's home ground, the number 6 player played from the start and basically regained the form of a national team player. Perhaps he needs to improve the quality of his crosses and his ability to combine with the wingers.

Facing Dinh Hoang is midfielder Hoang Quoc Chi - a national team player who performed outstandingly last season. While he has scored 17 goals in the last three seasons, in the 2017 V-League alone he scored 7 goals and earned a call-up to the national team. This left midfielder's strengths lie in his speed and his ability to dribble past defenders when moving at high speed.

Song Lam Nghe An takes to the field, determined to win their first V.League 2018 match.

(Baonghean.vn) - This morning (March 18), just before the opening match of the 2018 V.League against S. Khanh Hoa BVN at Vinh Stadium, coach Nguyen Duc Thang and his team held a spirited send-off ceremony for the new season.

Fans at Vinh Stadium will witness an exciting chase between a rising star from the coastal city and a veteran returning to action after many days of injury recovery. Fortunately, in the home team's defense, Que Ngoc Hai and Van Khanh are playing quite well, promising to provide a lot of support on the right flank. Players The Nhat and Sy Nam are also good options for the SLNA coaching staff on this wing.

Hopefully, striker Osmar will shine like he did when he played for HAGL. Photo: Internet

After failing to renew striker Henry's contract, SLNA's coaching staff were unsuccessful with Danko. Foreign player Osmar was a "safe bet" given his previous V-League appearances for HAGL. However, the Brazilian striker's performance remains to be seen.

SLNA's crosses from the second line are often high and quite difficult to control, requiring Osmar to make precise passes to avoid having the ball stolen by center-back Zarous. Henry's good performance for Nam Dinh also puts some pressure on foreign player Osmar and the SLNA coaching staff.

Currently, Khắc Ngọc remains the most influential figure in SLNA's performance as the team's playmaker. However, it's clear that goalkeeper Văn Hùng, defender Đình Hoàng, and striker Osmar are still the names that both fans in Nghệ An and S. Khánh Hòa are interested in. SLNA supporters, besides wanting their team to secure three points, are also hoping for these three players to shine.