Song Lam Nghe An and the 'launching pad' from the defense
(Baonghean.vn) - After the first two rounds of V.League 2020, SLNA is the only team that has not conceded a single goal.
At the end of the 2019 season, the Nghe An team had to sadly say goodbye to a series of key players in the defense line. In addition to center back Memovic joining HAGL, Vinh Stadium also witnessed the loss of goalkeeper Tran Nguyen Manh, right-back Tran Dinh Hoang and midfielder Vo Ngoc Toan. If counting the duo Que Ngoc Hai - Pham Manh Hung "leaving" at the end of 2018, SLNA's entire defense line was completely "destroyed" within just 1 year. No team in the V.League has been devastated by the "force bleeding" as terribly as SLNA.
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| Tran Nguyen Manh's "gap" in SLNA's goal... Photo: Xuan Thuy |
Not to mention the injury of national player Pham Xuan Manh, who often plays as SLNA's right-back during Tran Dinh Hoang's absence in the last 3 seasons.
It is true that nothing can be predicted in football. Contrary to the speculations of most experts and football fans in Nghe An, coach Ngo Quang Truong and his team had a rather impressive start. And once again, the defense line was mentioned for its excellence. Center back Hoang Van Khanh and left back Tran Dinh Dong still proved their inherent class, the rookie duo goalkeeper Nguyen Van Hoang and center back Gustavo Santos are also showing their quick integration in the new environment, and right back Nguyen Sy Nam is doing well in the role that Tran Dinh Hoang just left.
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| …is gradually being filled by his junior Nguyen Van Hoang. Photo: Nguyet Ha |
Its initial result was 180 minutes of keeping the strikers of Saigon and B.Binh Duong "silent". Note that the attack lines of the two teams mentioned above are both dangerous in this year's V.League. Just look at the way Saigon crushed the home team SHB Da Nang in round 2 (4 - 1) or the famous killers present in the B.Binh Duong squad such as Nguyen Tien Linh, Gustavo Conceicao, To Van Vu, Youssouf Toure... to see.
At present, the attack line has not met expectations, so the solidity of the defense is the bright spot, the reliable support for the Nghe An team to achieve positive results. But first, the SLNA coaching staff must quickly overcome the existing shortcomings such as the unreasonable entry and exit of goalkeeper Nguyen Van Hoang, the lack of concentration of center back Gustavo Santos and the accuracy in the long-range defense situations of Dang Van Lam, Bui Dinh Chau, Nguyen Quang Tinh, Ho Sy Sam...
