Song Lam Nghe An: Can we stop the losing streak?

Neighboring team Dong A Thanh Hoa was not really strong at the beginning of the season for many different reasons, but every time they faced Song Lam Nghe An, whether at home or away, they always showed that they were not inferior.

Song Lam Nghe An cannot easily get what it needs. Photo courtesy of Chung Nguyen

Indeed, the match ended in a 0-0 draw that could satisfy both teams because at present, although they want 3 points, Song Lam Nghe An cannot easily get what they need, while Dong A Thanh Hoa is also helpless. With home field advantage, Song Lam Nghe An lost 3 important pillars at the same time: Olaha, Ojong Mark and Van Khanh. In fact, the absence of Ojong Mark or Van Khanh is no longer too strange for the Vinh team (Van Khanh has been out since the beginning of round 2, just returned from round 5, Ojong Mark has been out since round 5 until now), but the absence of Olaha shows how much the team's strength has clearly decreased? Without Olaha in the attack, coach Huy Hoang was forced to put Van Duc up to play with Oseni, while not really strengthening the attack, he lacked a transition factor from the midfield. Van Viet replaced Van Duc to take on the task but it is still far from reaching the stature of his senior.

Olaha's lack of restraint in the match at Hang Day Stadium in round 10 is having the "reverse effect" in the matches in rounds 11 and 12 of Song Lam Nghe An, forcing the team to try to patch up and the more they patch up, the more it shows the "error" of the system here. First of all, when the team takes the field with only one foreign player, the fault lies in the purchase and lack of necessary backup plans. Foreign players of course have more than enough physical strength for each match, but there are also injuries and penalty cards, so it is normal for them to have to rest due to health or suspension. Unfortunately for Song Lam Nghe An, it is not easy to get what they need, because the incident happened to 2 foreign players at the same time, so there is absolutely no replacement (that's why Coach Huy Hoang had to announce that he will soon find additional foreign players). If bad luck comes to Oseni or with a bad match day, being closely marked like in the match against Dong A Thanh Hoa, how harmless will Song Lam Nghe An's attack be? Everyone knows.

Without Olaha playing wide, stretching the opponent's defense, without the physical strength and power to confront the two foreign players guarding the away team's defense, all of Song Lam Nghe An's attacks did not bring any specific results. What needs to be added in this match is that due to the lack of key players, Huy Hoang continuously sent young players to the field including Xuan Tien, Van Viet as starters, then Van Cuong, 18-year-old Nam Hai, Xuan Dai... but all of them only had individual marks rather than collective marks. It is very difficult for these young players to do something special like Phi Hoang, Dinh Duy of SHB Da Nang have done...

Due to the direct red card, Olaha had to miss two consecutive matches in round 11 and 12 (against Dong A Thanh Hoa at home and Nam Dinh away). It will be twice as difficult, even three times more difficult for the team from Vinh Stadium, because Thien Truong Stadium has always been a difficult place for any team, including Hanoi FC or Song Lam Nghe An. Nam Dinh just had an important victory against Ho Chi Minh City in round 11 (2-1) and with this momentum, they will fight to win to earn 3 valuable points against the struggling team Song Lam Nghe An.

Hopefully, difficulties will bring out the best in Huy Hoang and his students. Not being caught up in the physical play of foreign players, the central defenders of Song Lam Nghe An led by Ngoc Hai must know how to maintain the game from start to finish. Sy Hoang's physical weakness can be exploited, so there must be a way to support this very skillful left-back, especially in situations where he moves up to play the ball. Nam Hai may be able to enter the field earlier to increase the steel in the midfield. When opportunities open up for young players, if they know how to seize them quickly, not only they but the whole team will be able to consolidate the necessary strength against any opponent.

While the top teams Hanoi FC and Hoang Anh Gia Lai are increasingly proving their strength in the race, Song Lam Nghe An is regrettably losing points in recent matches. If that losing streak is not stopped, specifically in the match against Nam Dinh in the next round, it is very possible that everything will slip out of reach for Song Lam Nghe An? Is that really the early warning sign for Huy Hoang and his students?