Midfielder Cao Xuan Thang SLNA has passed the "extreme crisis"?

The goal that sealed the 2-1 win in the match between SLNA and B.Binh Duong on March 7 was only the third goal scored by the midfielder from Quynh Luu for the Nghe An team in the V.League arena, since the 2015 season. This is an extremely disappointing number for a talented player like Cao Xuan Thang.

Same generation as Que Ngoc Hai, Pham Manh Hung... but Cao Xuan Thang's career has been quite bumpy. Emerging from the 2009 National U17 Finals, the midfielder wearing the number 17 shirt was considered a promising talent of the SLNA training center when he was often present in the U19, U21 SLNA squad participating in the Finals and left many deep impressions on experts and fans of Nghe An.

Cao Xuan Thang's goal to make it 2-0 at SLNA and B.Binh Duong. Photo: Duc Anh

Thanks to his excellent performances in the SLNA youth teams, Cao Xuan Thang was called up to the U19 Vietnam team (2012) and U23 Vietnam team (2014). At that time, many people believed that Cao Xuan Thang would be the face that, together with Tran Phi Son, would form the ideal wing midfielder pair of SLNA in the near future.

Unfortunately, injuries have slowed down Cao Xuan Thang's career. According to statistics, in V.League 2015, the midfielder from Quynh Luu only played 845 minutes. In V.League 2016, it was even less, with 385 minutes on the field. In V.League 2017, this player had to "sit and watch" for a whole year due to injury. Last season, the 26-year-old midfielder only played 742 minutes on the field.

In 4 consecutive seasons (2015 - 2018), he played a total of 1981 minutes - equivalent to 22 matches and scored 2 goals (only in V.League). Just looking at the above statistics is enough to understand how bad Cao Xuan Thang had been at Vinh Stadium.

Winger Cao Xuan Thang. Photo: Duc Anh

The end of the 2018 season is also the time when the contract between Cao Xuan Thang and SLNA expires. With what he has achieved in SLNA's shirt, not many people believe that the player born in 1993 will be retained by coach Nguyen Duc Thang. Therefore, the fact that Cao Xuan Thang was signed by SLNA with a new 3-year contract is very surprising. Because the contribution of the player wearing the number 17 shirt to SLNA in recent years has been too modest.

However, things are getting brighter for Cao Xuan Thang at the beginning of this season. In 3 matches at V.League 2019, the 26-year-old midfielder was in the starting lineup twice (against Quang Nam and B.Binh Duong). It is worth mentioning that Cao Xuan Thang scored 1 goal for the Nghe An team. The goal against goalkeeper Bui Tan Truong in the 44th minute helped SLNA beat B.Binh Duong with a score of 2-1, in round 3 of V.League 2019.

Cao Xuan Thang (number 17) shares joy with his teammates. Photo: Archive

Although this was only the third goal for the Vinh team in the V.League, it had a huge meaning for Cao Xuan Thang personally. The successful shot in the match against B.Binh Duong was like a “dose of doping” to stimulate Cao Xuan Thang’s fighting spirit in the coming time. Hopefully, the player from Quynh Luu will find himself again after the ups and downs and hardships.

Evaluating his teammate's performance, defender Nguyen Sy Nam said: "Thang played very well in the recent matches, especially in the match against B.Binh Duong. Hopefully, injuries will not find him again. If he is in a completely healthy state, Thang will be an extremely dangerous midfielder. Wish Thang many successes in his career path!"

Is it true that Cao Xuan Thang has "overcome the worst"?