Round 19 V.League: Can Song Lam Nghe An break the curse on Pleiku field?
(Baonghean.vn) - Visiting Hoang Anh Gia Lai's home ground has never been easy for Song Lam Nghe An, however, the Nghe An team will travel to Pleiku with the determination to stop a series of 3 consecutive losses here. Especially when the home team has also been in poor form recently.
After a streak of 5 consecutive wins (from round 6 to round 11),Hoang Anh Gia LaiIt seemed like they had returned to the race for the 2022 V.League championship. However, 6 consecutive matches without a win after that brought coach Kiatisuk's team down to the ground. There was no longer a Hoang Anh Gia Lai full of vitality that audiences across the country had seen, but instead a lethargic Hoang Anh Gia Lai. Although the squad still had Cong Phuong, Van Toan, Xuan Truong, Tuan Anh...
While the stars of the Vietnamese team did not play well, the foreign players of the Mountain City team were not much better. Brandao continuously missed opportunities, Bruno Henrique, although still scoring goals, contributed little to the game. In defense, the departure of center-back Kim Dong Su made Mauricio lose a good partner, making Hoang Anh Gia Lai's defense no longer as solid as before. With being far behind the top group on the rankings, perhaps the practical goal now for the Mountain City team is the National Cup, where they have reached the semi-finals.
However, the Nghe An team cannot underestimate Van Toan and Cong Phuong. The speed and technique of this duo combined with the physique and strength of Brandao and Bruno Henrique will make the Song Lam Nghe An defense have a hard day at work.
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Xuan Manh scored the opening goal in Song Lam Nghe An's 2-0 win in the first leg. Photo courtesy of Xuan Thuy. |
The good news for the Nghe An team is that Captain Que Ngoc Hai has returned after his suspension. The return of this central defender from Dien Chau will help strengthen the defense, especially in the area of preventing high balls. This is also the weakest point of the Nghe An team in the last 2 matches.
The 1-1 draw against Hong Linh Ha Tinh Club in round 18 could not help Song Lam Nghe An end the winless streak, but it brought many positive things to the Nghe An team. The attacks from the two wings were clearer and more dangerous. If these attacks continue to be promoted in the next match, it will be a big worry for the home team, because the two wings are the biggest weakness of Hoang Anh Gia Lai in recent matches. Besides, the return of striker Oseni to score will help this striker regain confidence and feeling of playing football, thereby helping to improve the attack ofLam River Nghe An.
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Phan Van Duc scored a superb goal to seal a 2-0 victory for the Nghe An team. Photo courtesy: Chung Nguyen |
Coach Kiatisuk's team's home form this season is not good, they only won 3, drew 3 and lost 2. However, in the last 3 home matches against Song Lam Nghe An, the home team Pleiku were the winners. And the away team also only won 2, drew 2 and lost 4 in their away matches in V.League this season. Therefore, it is likely that another draw will make the 2 teams' winless streak to 7.
The match between Hoang Anh Gia Lai and Song Lam Nghe An will take place at 18:00 on October 14, 2022 at Pleiku Stadium.
