Song Lam Nghe An: Is a top 3 finish possible?

Meanwhile, teams that were temporarily behind (albeit with 20 points but a worse goal difference) such as Topenland Binh Dinh and Hai Phong, or Viettel with 19 points, have overtaken the Vinh-based team after their victory in round 14. Specifically, in the provisional standings after round 14, Song Lam Nghe An dropped from 2nd to 5th place behind Hanoi FC, Topenland Binh Dinh, Hai Phong, and Viettel.

This is Song Lam Nghe An's lowest temporary ranking since the beginning of the season, and does this mean the team is gradually declining, drifting further away from its previously set top 3 goal? Is Song Lam Nghe An gradually revealing more weaknesses for opponents to exploit, while other stronger teams are rising strongly to turn the situation around and occupy higher positions in the standings?

Tran Dinh Hoang scored the opening goal for SLNA in their match against Hanoi FC at Vinh Stadium. Photo: Hai Hoang.

The answer isn't easy, and the situation isn't as pessimistic as it seems. In round 14, Song Lam Nghe An faced a tough opponent who had won seven consecutive matches against top teams like Hai Phong, Hoang Anh Gia Lai, Viettel, and Song Lam Nghe An itself in the first leg. Therefore, securing one point to end the opponent's winning streak is something not every team can achieve, whether at home or away. Moreover, it can be seen that in round 14, the aforementioned rising teams actually faced weaker opponents, such as Topenland Binh Dinh against Becamex Binh Duong (4-1), Hai Phong against Ho Chi Minh City (4-3), Viettel against Dong A Thanh Hoa (3-1)... so their three points weren't a "shocking" feat.

The problem is that when opportunities arise, the teams that seize them climb the rankings, while those that miss them remain stagnant (while others overtake them) and may even fall further, as we've seen before.

This is also to mention the upcoming Round 15,Lam River, Nghe AnPlaying away against Dong A Thanh Hoa, an opponent they previously drew with and earned a point at Vinh Stadium in the first leg, Song Lam Nghe An faces a tough challenge. Currently, Dong A Thanh Hoa is not in good form and is facing coaching problems with coach Petrovic on sick leave. Therefore, if the visiting team plays differently from the first leg, with more flair and explosiveness, securing points, or even three points, is quite possible. This would cause further changes in the league table, and although their performance might depend on other teams, Song Lam Nghe An will certainly avoid their undesirable fifth place position. However, it will be difficult for the visitors, as they have historically struggled against their neighbors. Furthermore, their ability to capitalize on opportunities isn't something Huy Hoang and his players always excel at, as seen in the first leg, so everything remains uncertain and difficult to predict. It's also possible that the visiting team could leave empty-handed because the home team has nothing to lose and will fight back strongly, especially after their recent defeat against Viettel which saw them drop to the middle of the league table (8th place). Therefore, if Huy Hoang isn't careful in reminding his players or if an unexpected situation arises from the referee, the outcome of the story could be unpredictable.

SLNA has all its key players participating in this tournament, such as Que Ngoc Hai, Phan Van Duc, Xuan Manh, Oseni, Olaha... Especially noteworthy is the return of captain and central defender Hoang Van Khanh, who has just recovered from a long period of injury. (Photo courtesy of Chung Nguyen)

In this 15th round, there will be a clash between Topenland Binh Dinh and Hanoi FC, and there's talk of another "stumbling block," further narrowing the gap between the top title contenders before the finish line. Of course, "Vietnam's PSG," with its strong domestic players, talented foreign players, experienced coach, and current form after a difficult start, is a plausible hope to make the V-League more attractive and watchable, determined to prevent Hanoi FC from racing to the finish line alone in a boring and monotonous manner.

Other matches, such as Hoang Anh Gia Lai vs. Saigon FC, Da Nang vs. Hai Phong, etc., will be opportunities for the higher-ranked teams to accumulate points and compete directly with not only Song Lam Nghe An for a higher position. Therefore, the only way forward is to play well in each match, take responsibility for their own achievements, and not worry about other results.

The current concern is that Song Lam Nghe An is still searching for its ideal squad, while its personnel is constantly fluctuating due to suspensions, inconsistent form, and tactical decisions in each match. The team has many established players and young stars, but lacks a true leader on the field. Furthermore, the foreign players are becoming increasingly ineffective, which is worrying, often forcing Huy Hoang to reluctantly substitute them, leaving the team to rely on foreign players and play exclusively with domestic ones. It's difficult to expect a top ranking, but falling outside the top 3 would be a significant and regrettable outcome.

The road ahead is long, and hopefully Song Lam Nghe An will become stronger with each game, gradually meeting the expectations of the fans and achieving even greater success in the coming season.