Song Lam Nghe An: Little joy, much worry

Indeed, although the away team lost many important factors that brought them to second place last season, Hai Phong still has the talented coach Chu Dinh Nghiem, Van Toan, Hai Huy, and quality "reinforcements" Van Toi, Viet Hung, Minh Di... who helped them win 4 points in the last 2 matches. So in general, a draw against a superior opponent like Hai Phong is not unacceptable, although Huy Hoang and his team could have made a difference if they had been luckier.

Before the match, the Vinh home team only had 2 points after 2 draws against SHB Da Nang and Dong A Thanh Hoa. Meanwhile, Hai Phong Club had 4 points and ranked 3rd on the V.League 2023 Rankings. Photo: Chung Le

With 3 consecutive draws (2 home matches, 1 away match), Song Lam Nghe An seems to be "stepping on the same path" as Hoang Anh Gia Lai in previous seasons and now. It is a team that plays well but not well, or has excellent players but also bad players, a style of play that is easily neutralized, powerless. In three matches, Song Lam Nghe An has only scored 2 goals, conceding 2 goals, showing both joy and worry, even joy is less but worry is more.

The strange thing is that in the opening match, Song Lam Nghe An scored a goal (minute 44), then just 1 minute later, the home team was equalized in a rare and only attack by the away team Da Nang. In the third match, the opposite situation happened when Song Lam unexpectedly fell behind due to a childish mistake by goalkeeper Van Tien in the 10th minute, then just one minute later the home team immediately equalized from an independent attack by striker Kandolo. The rest was a tense match, regrettable missed chances, and disappointment because everything was still deadlocked with no way out...

In this match, Song Lam Nghe An has the return of young midfielder Dinh Xuan Tien - who was absent in the previous 2 rounds due to injury. Photo: Chung Le

In 2 goals ofLam River Nghe AnCurrently, one is due to the young player Nam Hai, which is very encouraging and with 3 matches playing in the difficult, sensitive position in the midfield, one is due to a foreign player playing in the first season, which is also a positive sign. The assists for the 2 goals mentioned above were all by experienced pillars Trong Hoang and Xuan Manh, showing the indispensable role of these seniors in the long journey of the season. Xuan Manh and Trong Hoang were also very close to scoring or in other words, missed opportunities in the recent matches, so hopefully after this "extremely bad draw", Song Lam Nghe An will have more new names added to the scoreboard, escaping the current slow start.

Perhaps due to injuries and poor physical condition, Van Hoang, Dinh Tien and Xuan Tien have not been put on the field and have not played as efficiently as they should. That may be the reason why Song Lam Nghe An has to risk sending out many young players and not everyone has played well or is commendable.

The hope of Van Cuong is one of the specific examples. Cuong was the reason for the loss in the opening match, was not trusted for a minute in the second match, and in the third match, he only entered the field at the beginning of the second half, played clumsily, passed back carelessly, adding to the minus points in the eyes of the coaching staff and fans. It is a pity that the two young factors that emerged from last season, Xuan Tien and Van Cuong, are not starting as expected this season. So who can the Vinh Stadium team hope for, when will the matches be even more difficult than SHB Da Nang or Hai Phong?

Going into this match, Song Lam Nghe An was determined to win their first victory in the tournament. Photo: Chung Le

Hopefully Van Hoang will return soon to fill the gap in the goalkeeper position as well as Dinh Tien will return to his usual role as a ball-playing or finishing player? Hopefully Olaha will be more focused in the attacking midfield position or will be able to play closer to the opponent's goal, instead of being everywhere looking for the ball or reducing the load on the midfield. And when Ngoc Hai is still forced deep down to protect the goal, he will have a hard time on the defensive front, while being suffocated and difficult on the offensive front. Perhaps, the more "liberating" Ngoc Hai is, allowing and creating conditions for him to play freely and move higher, the brighter things will be for Song Lam Nghe An against all opponents.

Round 4, Song Lam Nghe An will be a guest at 19/8 Nha Trang Stadium and this is the opponent with the oldest average age in the tournament (over 28 years old), considered to be… on par with the other team, having been identified as a “point treasure” after 2 failed rounds. If they try to promote all their strengths and have luck, 3 points will be within reach. But if they continue to draw or worse, Song Lam Nghe An will be “identified” like Khanh Hoa or Hoang Anh Gia Lai?

It's no exaggeration to say that 3 consecutive draws is... unusual. If we don't get 3 points against Khanh Hoa, can the coaching staff's position be normal and peaceful as if nothing happened?./.