Lam Nghe An River 'no flour can make a paste'?

While Hoang Anh Gia Lai is transforming with a young squad after 4 consecutive draws before that, with a 4-1 away win against mighty Viettel, Khanh Hoa also played not too badly away against Thep Xanh Nam Dinh (1-1), Song Lam Nghe An also fought tirelessly to fight against the team that just changed coach Binh Duong but could not escape the 5th consecutive draw (1-1).

In football, a team that creates many scoring opportunities but fails to finish is likely to fall into a situation where the opponent only has a few opportunities but scores a goal. Against Binh Duong who tried hard, Song Lam Nghe An had 20 shots towards goalkeeper Minh Toan's goal but only Vytas' lucky touch in the 76th minute put the ball into the opponent's net. The rest, all the clear opportunities were blocked by Minh Toan or the goal post, such as Soladio's shot in the 24th minute, Xuan Manh's tap-in in the 28th minute, Ngoc Hai's close-range shot in the 68th minute, Ngoc Hai's free kick hitting the goal post in the 70th minute, and Dinh Tien's powerful shot in the penalty area in the 85th minute.

Que Ngoc Hai's celebration after his team scored the equalizer in the match against Binh Duong. Photo: Chung Le

The away team Binh Duong only had 3 shots in the first half but they got the opening goal from a free kick by 20-year-old striker Vi Hao. The free kick talent of this young player, combined with a bit of luck, was officially recognized after his home team asked him not to participate in the Doha Cup (along with Xuan Tien and Van Cuong from the home team Song Lam Nghe An). And this is not only good news for Vi Hao, Binh Duong but also for the entire U22 Vietnam team under coach Troussier.

So what madeLam River Nghe Anplaying enthusiastically, intelligently but completely unlucky in front of the opponent's goal? In this match, Trong Hoang was the one who played energetically, dramatically, officially returning to his best version on the field, especially after a long period of injury treatment. The defense of Song Lam Nghe An also completely neutralized the number 1 striker of V-League in recent years, Rimario, not to mention the famous striker Tien Linh.

It can be said that in the match in round 5, goalkeeper Minh Toan was the one who played brilliantly, blocking almost all efforts of the home team. We also cannot ignore the lack of luck of the home team players when their teammates created opportunities that could not be clearer and more delicious.

Center back Vytas has an ideal height, has at least 2-3 scoring opportunities with his head but has missed them and after 5 matches, unfortunately the hope of this center back's ability to finish from aerial situations is almost zero or just a vague hope. And we still have to wait because after the lucky equalizer in this match, maybe Vytas will be more confident and gradually meet the expectations of his teammates and the audience.

Although unable to win all 3 points, Song Lam Nghe An had a pretty good performance against Binh Duong. Photo: Chung Le

With just one free kick opportunity, Binh Duong scored a goal, while Song Lam Nghe An repeatedly let it slip away, even when they shot well but hit the post like Ngoc Hai's shot. Song Lam Nghe An's equalizer from a corner kick was a new example of taking advantage of set pieces, but it should be remembered that Ngoc Hai and his teammates were exploited a lot for set pieces, while they took advantage of them very little.

When the team has positions that create breakthroughs regularly, as Trong Hoang has shown, unfortunately the ability to finish perfectly, especially of foreign players in the attack, is a big question mark. When there is no talented free kick player in the team, like Minh Vuong or Vi Hao who just scored, everything will become extremely difficult and arduous. Many people question whether Song Lam Nghe An players, in addition to their long-term military training, should strengthen their free kick skills, their ability to counterattack, and resolve set-piece situations of the opponent, and definitely have a factor that has a "fate" for goals, is good at "sniffing" goals at all times and all opportunities.

And is it true that, on the coaching chair, Huy Hoang, after 5 rounds of V-League, including the National Cup qualifying round, has "run out" of capital, so he cannot revive a team with potential but playing soullessly, without rhythm, without grace and efficiency as desired? Of course, comparing Huy Hoang with Kiatisuk is extremely lame, but the fact that "having flour but not being able to make glue" in the Vinh team and the recent difference in the mountain town team after 4 rounds of all draws will make many people extremely worried and concerned. A team that has not lost but also has not won for a long time, with such a vague image, falling like that, where is it "worthy" to stand in this developing football scene?