Losing to Hanoi, SLNA faces difficulties at the 2017 National U19 Finals

(Baonghean.vn) - If they had won against U19 Hanoi in the second round, SLNA would have secured a ticket to the semi-finals. However, there was no surprise when coach Nguyen Dinh Dung and his team's plan to keep a clean sheet was ruined by a single goal conceded.

U19 SLNA's intention to get 1 point against U19 Hanoi was completely ruined because of the lack of concentration of the defense in the first minutes of the second half - Photo: Trung Kien.

Before facing each other in the second round taking place this afternoon, March 24, both U19 SLNA and U19 Hanoi had 3 points and shared the first position in Group B. Therefore, whichever team won would get the first ticket to the semi-finals. Therefore, during the first half, U19 Hanoi with a better quality squad actively played on the field and organized many dangerous attacks.

Meanwhile, U19 SLNA showed caution with a tight defense strategy and quick counterattacks to keep their net safe. In the first 45 minutes, coach Nguyen Dinh Dung's students were successful when goalkeeper Duong Van Cuong's goal remained sealed.

The first half of the match ended in a 0-0 draw, with Hanoi's key strikers such as Le Van Nam and Tran Van Cong helpless.

If they do not win against U19 PVF in the next round, U19 SLNA will have to accept stopping at the group stage of the 2017 National U19 Finals - Photo: Trung Kien

Not long into the second half, the team that was considered a championship candidate for this year got what they wanted in a rather surprising way when striker Van Cong took advantage of a corner kick and the lack of concentration of the U19 SLNA defense in the 52nd minute to head the ball to open the score of the match.

Having scored a goal, U19 Hanoi still did not want to stop but also created many dangerous scoring opportunities towards U19 SLNA's goal. In which, goalkeeper Van Cuong's goal was put in an alarming state many times, even once strikers like Le Van Nam of U19 Hanoi hit the ball against the opponent's crossbar.

In this match, SLNA's midfield was completely outclassed. SLNA U19's coaching staff added Dang Van Lam to replace Bach Tien Cuong and made some other changes to the attack to keep 1 point.

However, the efforts of coach Nguyen Dinh Dung's students were completely fruitless because of the reasonable playing style and even quality of the opponent's squad.

Unable to score even 1 goal, U19 SLNA accepted the final loss 0-1 and had to watch their opponent advance to the semi-finals. At this time, U19 Hanoi has 6 points, U19 SLNA has the same points as U19 PVF but lost in terms of goal difference.

For U19 SLNA, to be present in the semi-finals, the young team from Nghe An must win against U19 PVF in the final match of Group B taking place on March 26.

Trung Kien