Song Lam Nghe An and the trip to Thanh Hoa: 'Easy to come, hard to return?'

The team with the youngest average age of the youngest coach in V.League Huy Hoang will have to "climb the mountain" because the Thanh team is extremely excited after the opening victory on the away field of Khanh Hoa and they will do everything to prolong the joy of victory.

Looking at the history of the matches, everything is temporarily leaning towards the Thanh team when they won 14, drew 6 and lost only 12 out of a total of 32 matches. In recent years, the Thanh team has also been slightly better each time they met and this time all predictions are also for the team of the former coach of the Myanmar National Team, a person who is no stranger to us, Mr. Popov. While the Thanh team is focusing on large investments, buying foreign teachers and students,Lam River Nghe AnAlthough carrying a heavy tradition, it is still "inferior" to its neighbor in terms of recent competition achievements, so the above result is not surprising at all.

Song Lam Nghe An also faced some disadvantages when goalkeeper Van Hoang and midfielder Dinh Tien could not play due to injuries in this afternoon's match at Thanh Hoa Stadium. Photo: Sy Hieu

But football is not a story of “going with history”, nor is there a story of “building bridges”… so nothing can be said in advance when the referee has not blown the whistle to end the match. If Song Lam Nghe An puts on the field the strongest lineup, the most harmonious combination of domestic and foreign players possible, and on a lucky afternoon, who knows, Huy Hoang and his students will do something remarkable? For example, if Song Lam Nghe An’s defense knows how to neutralize the former V.League top scorer, striker Bruno, causing all the home team’s attacking directions to fall into a deadlock, leading to haste and chaos, then the opportunity to play counter-attacks, their forte, will open up for their neighbor, who has long been considered weak?

Song Lam Nghe An certainly has nothing to fear if the young, potential domestic players play at their best, if the foreign players play with variety, rhythm, and attack and defend in harmony. The problem is that every position must play consistently and create a connection that multiplies the strength of the whole team. That is something Song Lam Nghe An has often lost, especially when playing away and at home.

Fortunately for the Nghe An team, Dinh Xuan Tien recovered from his injury in time to play in this afternoon's match against Dong A Thanh Hoa. Photo: Sy Hieu

Of course, this will not be an easy match and hopefully, amidst countless difficulties, Huy Hoang knows how to "urge" his players to play calmly, confidently, and overcome difficulties more successfully than expected. This is a real test for the central defender duo Ngoc Hai - Vytas, especially neutralizing striker Bruno. The weakness of the two wings of Song Lam Nghe An, especially the left wing of young defender Van Cuong, must be minimized by the support of central defender Vytas and midfielder Xuan Manh or Nam Hai. The left wing of Song Lam Nghe An is still considered immature, it must create surprise, both to make the opponent passive, and "shoulder" less of the burden for Trong Hoang's wing on the opposite side, then hopefully things will be easier?

It is difficult but nothing is impossible if Song Lam Nghe An knows how to play a match of their lives. Trong Hoang, Xuan Manh, Ngoc Hai… if they can best demonstrate their abilities and capabilities, they can lead their juniors to stand firm, even decide the fate of the match. And who knows, after Nam Hai, a young factor will suddenly speak up?

So, it seems like this is a match that is "easy to come, hard to return", should Song Lam Nghe An do everything to turn it into a match that is "hard to come, easy to return" to please the Nghe fans who love their hometown team?