The victory boosted Song Lam Nghe An's morale for the new year.

Among the participating teams, Song Lam Nghe An has hadwinThey impressed against SHB Da Nang in the qualifying round of the National Cup to advance to the quarterfinals. This is good news for coach Phan Nhu Thuat and his team, as well as for the many fans in Nghe An province.

However, is the goal of progressing deep into the National Cup truly achievable when the team is currently ranked 13th out of 14 in the V. League, Vietnam's top football competition?

The answer is definitely no. Song Lam Nghe An's top priority right now is to avoid relegation from the V.League. This is something everyone can clearly confirm. Their current strength makes it difficult for the team to create a miracle in the National Cup, especially when facing strong teams like Dong A Thanh Hoa – a team that has prioritized this competition in recent seasons.

So why is Song Lam Nghe An striving to defeat SHB Da Nang instead of "giving up" as they did against Binh Phuoc last season? The answer is simple: The team needs a win to boost morale after a poor run of results in the last 9 V.League rounds, especially with coach Phan Nhu Thuat having just returned to lead the team. Even if the team decides to "give up" in the upcoming quarter-final, there will still be time to focus all their efforts on the relegation battle in the V.League.

The recent break provided an opportunity for Song Lam Nghe An to strengthen their squad, with the return of Van Khanh and Khac Ngoc. At the same time, the team also switched tactics from a 3-5-2 formation to a 4-1-4-2 or 4-1-5-1 – systems that had previously brought them success. The 1-0 victory against SHB Da Nang, with a goal from Xuan Tien after a well-executed combination, was a valuable test for coach Nhu Thuat as he prepared for the upcoming V.League matches.

Despite not having their strongest starting lineup – missing key striker Olaha, with new signings Van Khanh and Khac Ngoc yet to play, Ba Quyen not yet registered, and Quang Vinh only coming on in the final minutes – the young players combined well with the foreign players to create a solid defense and effective attack.

The return of key players like Van Khanh and Khac Ngoc is a positive sign, but we also need to acknowledge the reality. Neither is a first-choice player at their former club, Thep Xanh Nam Dinh, and they are unlikely to make a significant impact immediately. Their V.League experience is valuable, but their momentum and form may have declined.

In addition, Song Lam Nghe An still has to rely on homegrown talents like Van Viet, Mai Hoang, Van Thanh, Ba Quyen, Quang Vinh, and Long Vu – who need more time to mature before they can lead the team.

While other teams are investing heavily in foreign players, Song Lam Nghe An faces numerous challenges due to limited resources. However, the victory in the National Cup could be the starting point for coach Nhu Thuat's team to regain their form, build momentum, and continue fighting in the V.League 2024-2025.

Hopefully, this early-year victory will become a driving force to help the team overcome difficulties and look forward to a more successful year in the year of the Snake 2025.