Song Lam Nghe An regrettably shared points with host Thanh Hoa
In round 18 of V.League 2024/2025, Song Lam Nghe An opened the scoring early, but still had to share points regretfully in their away match at Thanh Hoa's field.
After the draw against host Ho Chi Minh City Club in round 17 of V.League 2024/25,Lam River Nghe Antemporarily ranked 12th on the rankings with a gap of 4 points compared to the second-to-last team, Binh Dinh. Although not really safe, the recent stable series of matches has helped coach Phan Nhu Thuat and his team regain confidence in the relegation race.
The match against Thanh Hoa in round 18 is considered an important “hinge” for the Nghe An team. If they win, SLNA can completely create a safe distance from the bottom group. Therefore, coach Phan Nhu Thuat has deployed the strongest lineup.
In goal is goalkeeper Van Viet. The defense includes familiar names: Van Huy, Zaracho, Van Khanh and Van Cuong. The midfield is the quartet Quang Vinh, Khac Ngoc, Ngo Van Luong and Long Vu. The striker pair Olaha and Kuku lead the attack.
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Starting lineup of the two teams
Thanh Hoa:Xuan Hoang (67), Gustavo Santos (95), Thai Son (12), Van Loi (15), Viet Tu (18), Thanh Nam (14), Lucas Ribamar (20), A Mit (27), Truong Tinh (23), Van Thang (10), Yago Ramos (33).
SLNA:Van Viet (1), Van Huy (2), Zaracho (15), Van Khanh (55), Van Cuong (8), Quang Vinh (16), Long Vu (38), Van Luong (20), Olaha (7), Khac Ngoc (32), Kuku (10).
Right after the opening whistle, Song Lam Nghe An clearly showed their determination to win points. It only took 2 minutes for the away team to materialize their advantage with an early goal.
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From a combination on the left wing, the ball was passed into the middle to Ho Khac Ngoc. Not missing the opportunity, the midfielder wearing the number 32 shirt unleashed a powerful long-range shot, leaving goalkeeper Xuan Hoang helpless, opening the score 1-0 for the Nghe An team.
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After this goal, the match was interrupted by heavy rain pouring down on Thanh Hoa Stadium, forcing the referee to pause the match for more than 20 minutes. Although the match resumed later, the slippery pitch due to flooding greatly affected the play of both teams.
However, Song Lam Nghe An was still the team that created more dangerous opportunities. In the 25th minute, from a cross from the left wing, Long Vu had a chance to face the ball but his shot went just wide of the post.
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In the 40th minute, it was Quang Vinh's turn to have a powerful shot after a fast dribble, but goalkeeper Xuan Hoang made an excellent save.
Immediately after that, Thanh Hoa had a remarkable response. In the 43rd minute, Van Thang skillfully dribbled the ball before crossing to A Mit in a favorable position, but this player shot the ball over the bar, much to the regret of the home crowd.
After the break, the home team pushed up their formation in search of an equalizer. Their constant pressure finally paid off.
In the 60th minute, from a chaotic situation in the SLNA penalty area, the ball bounced right to Lucas Ribamar. This foreign striker did not miss the opportunity, easily tapping the ball into the empty net, equalizing the score 1-1.
After conceding the goal, SLNA suffered another loss when center back Zaracho was injured and forced to leave the field. Coach Phan Nhu Thuat was forced to send Nam Hai in as a replacement.
In the remaining minutes, both teams tried to push up their formations to find the decisive goal. However, the lack of sharpness in the final moves caused the match to end in a 1-1 draw.
This result leaves Song Lam Nghe An only 2 points ahead of the second-to-last team, Binh Dinh. The relegation race promises to be very tense in the coming rounds.
In round 19, Song Lam Nghe An will return home to welcome newcomer Quang Nam - a match considered crucial to the Nghe team's relegation journey.
