Song Lam Nghe An should not lose the trust of its fans.

The fans' sadness

On the afternoon of May 10th, Go Dau Stadium witnessed a large gathering of fans from Nghe An province, all eager to cheer on their hometown team. Some traveled dozens or even hundreds of kilometers from Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai, and Binh Duong to see Song Lam Nghe An play firsthand. For them, it was an opportunity to express their love for their homeland from afar.

Among them was Mr. Tung, a native of Nghe An province who has lived in the South for many years. Every time SLNA plays in the South, he tries to arrange his work so he can go to the stadium to cheer them on. This time, he even brought his whole family along the nearly 100 km journey to Go Dau Stadium, hoping to see his hometown team play a great match.

But in return, there was sadness and disappointment. After the match, his brief status update on social media touched many hearts: "I took my child to watch 4 matches, and SLNA lost all 4." That was the feeling of sadness of a fan who always had a sincere love for his hometown team.

SLNA fans can accept defeat, because football always has wins and losses. But what makes it hard for them to accept is the way the team performed on the field. Against CA TP.HCM, many SLNA players played without energy, lacked fighting spirit, and showed no desire to win points.

It's worth noting that in previous rounds, Coach Van Sy Son's team had shown many positive signs with their fierce fighting spirit. That determination had helped SLNA overcome difficult periods and create a safe distance from the bottom of the table. However, as the season entered its final stages, some players showed signs of declining morale.

It seems many players are thinking more about their personal futures instead of fighting wholeheartedly for the team. Some players who were expected to leave after the season seem to be playing with a cautious mindset, avoiding confrontations, and no longer maintaining the same passion as before. This is disappointing for the fans.

DDon't let yourself lose faith.

Looking back at the match at Go Dau Stadium, Song Lam Nghe An actually had a favorable start. The opening goal came quite early after an own goal by the home team's player, giving SLNA the control of the game they desired. With CA TP.HCM having just changed coaches and facing significant psychological pressure, this should have been an opportunity for the Nghe An team to capitalize on and aim for a positive result.

However, instead of playing solidly and maintaining focus, SLNA repeatedly made mistakes. The home team's equalizer at the end of the first half came from a defensive lapse by Hoang Van Khanh. It was a play where an experienced central defender should have handled it better.

Worse still was the second goal conceded in the second half. Justin Garcia, the foreign player expected to be a anchor in the defense, made a careless mistake, allowing the opponent to steal the ball and score. An unacceptable error for a central defender once highly regarded for his experience and expertise.

What disappointed viewers wasn't just the goals conceded, but the way SLNA gave up after falling behind. The final minutes of the match were quite dull for the team from Nghe An. There was no more aggressive pressing, no more passion or fighting spirit. This was a complete contrast to the spirit the team had shown earlier in the game.

The V.League still has many rounds ahead, and the gap with the relegation zone is not yet truly safe. If SLNA doesn't soon improve its mentality and attitude, it could easily find itself back in the stressful relegation battle like in previous seasons.

Coach Van Sy Son certainly understands this better than anyone. What he needs to do now is not just adjust tactics, but also boost the morale of his players. Because the fans in Nghe An have never demanded that the team win at all costs. What they need is a fighting spirit, passion, and an attitude worthy of the jersey the players are wearing.

The fans' belief has always been Song Lam Nghe An's greatest asset. But if they continue to play as poorly as they did at Go Dau Stadium, the team from Nghe An could lose that precious asset.