Song Lam Nghe An and the sadness of losing points on away field

Song Lam Nghe An is currently in the group of 3 teams with the most draws in the tournament, with 9 draws - equal to Dong A Thanh Hoa and only behind Hong Linh Ha Tinh (13 draws). Notably, the Nghe team has only won 3 matches after 18 rounds - a number that makes fans regretful.

In terms of the number of losses, Song Lam Nghe An has lost less than some of the teams ranked above such as B.Binh Duong, Hai Phong, Quang Nam (all with 7 losses). However, winning only 3 matches shows that the team has not been able to convert opportunities into maximum points.

If we only look at home performance, Song Lam Nghe An is not playing too badly. The team only lost 2 matches at Vinh Stadium against Thanh Hoa and Viettel. In the last 6 matches (including the National Cup), the team won 5 and drew 1 (against Cong An Ha Noi).

However, the most regrettable thing is that in many matches, Song Lam Nghe An took the lead early but were still held to a draw, especially away from home. Those draws were like “psychological defeats”, because the team let victory slip away by a hair’s breadth.

The 2-2 draw at Quy Nhon Stadium against Binh Dinh in round 5 can be mentioned. Although leading 2-0 until the 80th minute thanks to goals from Quang Vinh and Olaha, the Nghe An team still conceded a draw - including a goal from the penalty spot.

In round 8, although Olaha scored early to help Song Lam Nghe An take the lead against Quang Nam, the team conceded a goal in the 74th minute, leaving the field with only 1 point.

Similarly, in the match against Hanoi Police, Zaracho opened the score but the team was equalized in the first half, even having to play with one less player in the second half.

In round 17, Olaha scored from the penalty spot to help the team take the lead against Ho Chi Minh City Club, but the team continued to let the opponent equalize the score in the 69th minute, once again losing the victory.

Most recently, in round 18, Song Lam Nghe An was a guest.at Dong A Thanh Hoa Stadium. Khac Ngoc scored early in the 2nd minute, but the team continued to be unable to maintain the advantage when they were equalized in the 63rd minute.

In total, in 9 away matches this season, Song Lam Nghe An lost 4 and drew 5 - in which there were 5 matches where the team scored first but could not win. A very regrettable result compared to the efforts and excellent playing style that the players showed.

These results show that the competitive mentality and battle experience are still the major weaknesses of the young players of Song Lam Nghe An. They are easily shaken when they are behind, and even when they have the advantage, they do not have enough courage to preserve the score. This is a problem that can only be solved through practice, thereby helping the players accumulate experience and hone their battle skills.

In addition, the coaching staff’s tactical preparation and ability to “read” the game are also very important. Flexible response scenarios will help players be more confident in unfavorable situations or when they are in an advantage, avoiding the situation of “holding the gold and letting it fall”.

As a goalkeeper, Van Viet also needs to improve his ability to command the defense – a very necessary factor to maintain stability at sensitive moments at the end of the match.

However, on the positive side, the young players of Song Lam Nghe An are making remarkable progress. Under the guidance of seniors such as Dinh Hoang, Van Khanh, Khac Ngoc, and being given regular playing opportunities, they are gradually maturing.

The valuable experiences from intense matches will be the luggage to help them be more steadfast in the remaining journey of the season - and further in the following seasons.