Song Lam Nghe An regrettably lost points at home

(Baonghean.vn) - After losing the first two matches, SLNA returned home to host QNK Quang Nam - an opponent they have never lost to in the V-League. Although the attack played quite well, mistakes in the defense prevented the home team from getting their first win in the 2016 V-League.

SLNA players entered the field determined to win all 3 points at home - photo: Duc Chuyen.

Compared to the first two matches, coach Ngo Quang Truong made some notable changes in the starting lineup. Two veteran players, center back Minh Duc and midfielder Van Vinh, were chosen to replace two young players, Van Khanh and Khac Ngoc.

Coach Ngo Quang Truong and reserve players of the home team - photo: Duc Chuyen.

On the away team side, coach Hoang Van Phuc welcomed the return of names like Doan Hung Son, Phan Thanh Hung and together with names like Dinh Thanh Trung, Hoang Vissai and the foreign striker pair Felix and Suleiman, the away team's strength is rated much higher in terms of experience.

In the first 5 minutes, both teams played cautiously and tightly. Although playing at home, SLNA did not dare to push their attacking formation high, but mainly fed long balls up front to the foreign duo Baba Salia and Odat. Meanwhile, Quang Nam also attacked the ball quite cautiously.

QNK Quang Nam's defenders played tightly for most of the first half - photo: Duc Chuyen.

However, from the 15th minute, the away team's coordination became more coherent and they gradually pushed SLNA back to their own half. In the 19th minute, from a free kick on the right wing, player Dinh Thanh Trung crossed the ball very uncomfortably to the position of two foreign players Suleiman and Felix. Fortunately for SLNA, Suleiman did not touch the ball.

In the 23rd minute, the two foreign players of QNK Quang Nam again threatened goalkeeper Nguyen Manh's goal when they freely coordinated with each other in the middle. However, Felix's final shot was promptly blocked by a home team defender.

However, the few QNK Quang Nam fans present at Vinh Stadium did not have to wait long to celebrate. In the 24th minute, Suleiman dribbled strongly on the right wing, passed Ngoc Duc and crossed inside. Nguyen Manh leaned forward to push the ball out but it found Felix's feet and the striker easily tapped the ball into the empty net. 1-0 for QNK Quang Nam.

Striker Felix of QNK Quang Nam continuously causes difficulties for SLNA defenders - photo: Thanh Chung.

Immediately after conceding the goal, SLNA had a response. Receiving a smart pass from his teammate, Baba Salia rushed down to face Minh Nhut, but the away team's goalkeeper rushed out one step faster to catch the ball.

In the following minutes, the position of SLNA's left-back Vo Ngoc Duc continued to be exploited by the away team with the strength and agility of two players Dinh Thanh Trung and Suleiman. This forced coach Ngo Quang Truong to put this defender on the field so that Hoang Van Khanh could play as a center back and push Manh Hung to the left wing.

More solid in defense but SLNA's midfield played quite badly with many bad passes. The home team's 2 foreign strikers were therefore often "starved" for the ball.

However, in the 44th minute, SLNA unexpectedly equalized the score. From a pass from Manh Hung on the left wing, Phi Son quickly charged in from the right wing and took advantage of the hesitation of the defenders and goalkeeper of QNK Quang Nam, jumping high to head the ball into the opponent's net.

SLNA players celebrate the second goal - photo: Duc Chuyen.

Not stopping there, in the last minute of injury time of the first half, SLNA scored the second goal. From a counter-attack, Odat quickly ran down the right wing and passed the ball to Van Vinh who finished with his chest. Although goalkeeper Minh Nhut tried to push the ball away, the linesman determined that the ball had gone into the goal. The score was 2-1, with the audience at Vinh Stadium bursting with joy.

The audience at Vinh Stadium was excited by the home team's consecutive goals at the end of the first half - photo: Thanh Chung.

Right at the beginning of the second half, the audience at Vinh Stadium continued to receive a surprise, but this time from the away team. In the 46th minute, from a corner kick by midfielder Thanh Hung, number 21 Manh Toan stood near the sideline and headed the ball back, the ball bounced into the hands of goalkeeper Nguyen Manh and went into the net at the near corner. The score was balanced at 2-2.

Phi Son is still SLNA's most outstanding player - photo: Duc Chuyen.

In the following minutes, the match was balanced as the two teams continuously played tit for tat. In an open game, SLNA's attacks also became sharper and they scored a goal to take the lead in the 57th minute. In a situation where the ball was dribbled into the middle, Phi Son passed the ball accurately for Odat to run down and finish past goalkeeper Minh Nhut into the net. The score was 3-2 in favor of the home team.

Striker Odat scored his first goal for SLNA in this first match, but that was not enough for the home team to get 3 points - photo: Duc Chuyen.

But SLNA's lead did not last long. In the 61st minute, striker Ha Minh Tuan, who had just entered the field a few minutes earlier, had a beautiful dive in the penalty area, bringing a penalty to the away team. Captain of QNK Quang Nam Dinh Thanh Trung easily defeated goalkeeper Nguyen Manh to once again bring the match back to the starting line.

In the remaining 30 minutes, the tempo of the match slowed down, as SLNA could no longer maintain their excitement, while QNK Quang Nam showed caution. In the last 10 minutes, the away team played slightly better as they continuously created dangerous situations for goalkeeper Nguyen Manh's goal. However, no more goals were scored.

Line-up:

SLNA: Nguyen Manh, Ngoc Duc (Van Khanh 32'), Minh Duc, Manh Hung, Dinh Hoang, Sy Sam, Phi Son, Ngoc Toan, Van Vinh (Khac Ngoc 71'), Baba Salia, Odat (Viet Nguyen 88).

QNK Quang Nam: Minh Nhut, Hoang Vissai, Thanh Trung, Van Hau, Manh Toan, Hung Son (Minh Tuan 60'), Van Ha (Huy Tan 71'), Huy Hung, Thanh Hung (Duy Nam - 90+4), Felix, Suleiman.

Minh Quan