Quang Ninh Coal - SLNA: Holding each other back at Cam Pha?

Both the home team Than Quang Ninh and the away team SLNA share the ambition of being in the TOP 3 of V.League 2018. Currently, SLNA has 35 points and is temporarily in 3rd place, only 1 point more than the team in 4th place - FLC Thanh Hoa and 4 points more than the team in 5th place - Than Quang Ninh.

If they lose to the mining team, coach Nguyen Duc Thang and his team will face the risk of being knocked out of the TOP 3 by FLC Thanh Hoa and being approached by Than Quang Ninh with 1 point less.

Going to Cam Pha this time, the Nghe An team did not have their strongest squad. In addition to the absence of the Vietnamese Olympic duo Phan Van Duc - Pham Xuan Manh (injured), SLNA also did not have the service of goalkeeper Phan Dinh Vu Hai for the same reason.

These are huge losses and seriously affect the strength of the away team. Because Phan Van Duc, Pham Xuan Manh, Phan Dinh Vu Hai are all extremely important pillars of SLNA this season.

Goalkeeper Phan Dinh Vu Hai will be absent due to injury. Photo: Internet

With such a depleted squad, plus the disadvantage of having to play at Cam Pha Stadium, the chance of winning for coach Nguyen Duc Thang and his team is extremely small.

According to statistics, since the 1-0 victory (recorded by Phan Nhu Thuat) in round 1 of V.League 2014 until now, SLNA has not had any more points when visiting Cam Pha Stadium. In the last 3 away matches, the Nghe team lost all 3 (V.League 2015 lost 1-0, V.League 2016 lost 1-3, V.League 2017 lost 1-2).

However, based on what has just been mentioned, we cannot rush to assume that the Nghe An team will 100% have to leave the mining land empty-handed. The 3-1 victory over SHB Da Nang in round 22 is the medicine to stimulate the fighting spirit of Que Ngoc Hai and his teammates.

Facing Than Quang Ninh, coach Nguyen Duc Thang and his team will fight with all their might to win all 3 points and continue to put pressure on 2nd place Sanna Khanh Hoa (39 points).

The first leg took place at Vinh Stadium, the two teams tied with a score of 2 - 2. Photo: Archive

At this time, Than Quang Ninh is not in the best form. Two consecutive draws against Hai Phong (3-3) and B.Binh Duong (1-1) have partly reflected that. Not to mention, entering the match against SLNA, coach Phan Thanh Hung could not field defender Duong Van Khoa (suspended).

Without the presence of the player born in 1994, Than Quang Ninh's defense will be much more fragile. SLNA's attack will not miss the opportunity to exploit the "hole" left by Duong Van Khoa.

But anyway, with the advantage of playing at home and suffering less losses in terms of force, Than Quang Ninh's ability to win is still slightly better than the Nghe team. Perhaps, a draw is the most likely result./.