Song Lam Nghe An - half happy half worried

(Baonghean.vn) - In a match where, except for HN.T&T, 6/7 home teams got 3 points, SLNA's victory over Saigon was considered "half happy" because the goal of 3 points was achieved but there was still a "half worried" looming (or half worried). Let's analyze in depth the match between SLNA and SG.

FIFA Virus

Of the 4 SLNA players who went to the national team, except for Phi Son who did not play, 3/4 of the players who returned to Vinh Stadium showed different expressions. Right-back Dinh Hoang was not on the field due to health reasons, Que Ngoc Hai did not leave an impression in the role of central midfielder, and goalkeeper Nguyen Manh "ascended to heaven" after his wedding exactly 1 week ago.

Midfielder Phi Son also played just averagely, neither his ball control nor his breakthroughs left a big mark, partly because Sy Sam rarely played as a fullback. When he had the ball, Phi Son often stood quite far away from his teammates, and without someone to act as a wall, he had to pass the ball back to the back line.

Odah was quick, delicate and skillful in handling the ball, scoring the only goal against Saigon FC. Photo: Thanh Tung/VNA in Nghe An

Playing against Saigon, a weak team, SLNA's coaching board advocated pressing the field from the start. However, "long passes", which is Que Ngoc Hai's forte, were not used in this match. According to statistics, Ngoc Hai only had 1/7 accurate long passes, and in the first half, Ngoc Hai did not even have a decent pass.

SLNA’s ability to defend from a distance also has problems, many times SLNA’s coaching staff had to hoarsely shout to direct Ngoc Hai to play in the right position. Thus, it can be said that except for Nguyen Manh, SLNA is infected with the “FIFA virus”, directly affecting the quality of the game.

Although not participating in the national team, former player Manh Hung also revealed some unfortunate mistakes. In the 18th minute, in a counter-attack situation, instead of clearing the ball out of bounds, he (and Minh Duc later joined him) competed with Van Thuan the entire length of the field. He still lost his footing, could not steal the ball and Van Thuan made a pass to captain Ngoc Duy. From a distance of 5m, this national player pursed his lips and kicked the ball... out when goalkeeper Nguyen Manh's goal was empty.

SLNA's coaching staff must quickly correct such fatal mistakes, starting with the mindset of underestimating the opponent and then not being able to react in time when being outwitted. Not to mention that at the end of the match, the left corner guarded by defender Manh Hung, at least twice, Van Dai of Saigon stood opposite Nguyen Manh and only with the excellence of this goalkeeper, SLNA was able to get 3 lucky points.

Bright Spot

The audience voted Odah and goalkeeper Nguyen Manh as the two best players of the match. Playing with all his might, striker Odah made Saigon's central defenders Andrew and Dinh Trong tired and in a rare occasion, Andrew made a mistake that led to a goal.

Nguyen Manh was decisive in entering and clearing the ball, completing his task of protecting the goal during the 90 minutes of play. Photo: Thanh Tung/VNA in Nghe An.

A series of strikers Ngoc Duy, Xuan Duong, Dinh Trong, Cong Thao, Van Thuan, Maurice tried everything, shot close, shot far, from high balls to low balls, especially in the last 5 minutes of the match, "shot from every angle" but still could not score against SLNA. The great credit must go to goalkeeper Nguyen Manh who was showing off his talent to the home crowd and his newlywed wife sitting in the stands. It is impossible not to mention Van Vinh, a silent passer of SLNA.

I highly agree with the comment of Dr. Le Thong Nhat, a SLNA fan: That free kick with the front instep, reached absolute standards, if it was just a little lower, Saigon's center back Andrew would have cleared it, if it was higher, striker Odah would have given up or the opposing team's goalkeeper Duc An would have controlled it. Not only that assist situation that led to the goal, but in the 70 minutes on the field, Van Vinh's ball control was quite varied, creating favorable conditions for Baba and Odah to receive the ball. When young player Van Duc entered the field, he could not keep the rhythm of the match, the game gradually tilted towards the away team.

With 7 points in hand, SLNA has climbed to 7th place in the rankings. But what the Nghe An audience is interested in is that SLNA, in the process of rejuvenating the squad, needs to quickly stabilize its playing style to gradually reap success.

AT