Thanh Hoa- SLNA: The most bland derby ever

Since April last year, Mr. De has replaced "4 generals", making it difficult for the Thanh Hoa team to determine their playing style. While Dinh Tung and Trong Hung were not ready to enter the field, new coach Thanh Cong only had two key players, Van Thang and Hoang Vu Samson. With only 4 days before facing SLNA, Thanh Hoa had no other choice but to choose a playing style revolving around Hoang Vu Samson.

Break the curse

Hoang Vu Samson was locked down, preventing Thanh Hoa from launching an attack. Photo: VPF.

In fact, Hoang Vu Samson is a nightmare for SLNA defenders. From 2015 to now, every season, this Nigerian player has scored against SLNA, even when he only came on as a substitute. Even in the past, Que Ngoc Hai thought he could breathe a sigh of relief, but in the last second of extra time (90+5), Hoang Vu Samson still scored (V.League 2017).

This striker is very strong and strange, he was the "author" of the counterattack that forced SLNA's center back Huy Hoang to leave the field on a stretcher in the match between Hanoi T&T and Song Lam Nghe An in round 3 of V.League 2012. It was also this player who ended Hanoi T&T's 13-match winless streak against SLNA in V.League 2015. More than anyone else, young SLNA players like Van Lam, Dinh Chau, and Ba Sang understood the curse: "If Hoang Vu Samson scores, the Nghe An team will lose."

Both coaches understand each other quite well, even the home coach Thanh Cong understands SLNA better than the team he just took over. Thanh Hoa's coaching staff fully understands that if they just lock down Van Duc and Tuan Tai and pass the ball to Hoang Vu Samson, they will at least get 1 point. SLNA's 2 foreign strikers are playing street football, improvised and not at all effective.

This makes SLNA, despite being known for playing a 4-4-2 formation, often have no attacking players. With only 44% possession and fewer attacking players than the opponent, it is expected that they could only make 3 shots in 90 minutes. Alagie Sosseh continues to be the most disappointing player and was soon replaced. It seems that this foreign player will have a hard time staying with the Nghe An team until the end of the season.

On the contrary, SLNA's midfield was also instructed to lock down Samson, not allowing him to accelerate. Of the 19 fouls committed on Thanh Hoa's field, 8 involved captain Hoang Vu Samson.

The absence of players like Xuan Manh and Xuan Thang has made the home team's central defenders Minh Tung and Epassi much more relaxed. In a match where Van Duc was closely marked and did not dare to accelerate after his injury, the Nghe An team's playing style changed a lot.

Poor legacy

SLNA's 4 shots, 2 of which were on target, certainly did not satisfy new coach Thanh Cong. Photo: VPF

The home team's midfield Thanh Long and Huu Dung had more possession of the ball and played more smoothly. However, Josip and Aime did not create the necessary breakthrough, so it was not difficult for the central defenders Ba Sang and Gustavo to neutralize them. It was not until Trong Hung entered the field that the danger increased towards goalkeeper Van Hoang's goal.

The number of 4 shots, including 2 on target of SLNA certainly did not satisfy new coach Thanh Cong, but he understood that the "legacy left behind" by his predecessor was not much. Whether playing 4-2-3-1 or 4-4-2, the important thing for Thanh Hoa right now is to regain the confidence of the players after a long period of too many draws and losses.

For the audience, it has been a long time since they have seen such a “harmonious” North Central derby, referee Vu Phuc Hoan only had to pull out a single yellow card. A point made both teams happy to leave, but surely each coach will have his own worries.