Round 23 V-League: Derby at Thong Nhat Stadium of Coach Miura
In the context of competing for relegation in V-League this year, the derby between HCMC FC and Saigon FC at Thong Nhat Stadium has become a notable match. If HCMC FC wins, they are almost assured, and if Saigon FC wins, they will surpass HCMC FC.
The fact that number 1 striker Matias has not recovered from injury is clearly a huge disadvantage for Ho Chi Minh City FC before the city's football derby.
The remaining foreign striker in coach Miura's hands, Chaves Santos, is not a high-quality striker, while foreign-born striker Huynh Kesley is now old, and cannot play at his best form and fitness in every match.
On the other hand, Saigon FC has a very dangerous striker Da Sylva in the front line, but Saigon FC's defense does not have many experienced players like the defense of Ho Chi Minh City Club.
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Ho Chi Minh City Club and Saigon FC have a relegation match at Thong Nhat Stadium. Photo: Trong Vu |
In that situation, a draw is the most likely result. Moreover, a draw with each side getting 1 point is not a bad result for both sides at the present time, because it is not certain that their main rivals in the race for relegation, Nam Dinh and Can Tho, will win in round 23 of Nuti Cafe V-League 2018.
Nam Dinh will be the guest at Lach Tray Stadium against the team with an annoying playing style, Hai Phong. In terms of strength, form as well as field advantage, the team from Hai Phong is better than the team from Thanh Nam.
Therefore, there is only one reason that can make Hai Phong lose points against Nam Dinh, that is when coach Truong Viet Hoang's team is not determined to win against coach Nguyen Van Sy's team.
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| HA Gia Lai will return home to welcome the new champion Hanoi FC. Photo: Anh Hai |
At Binh Duong Stadium, the bottom team Can Tho visited B.Binh Duong, who were also not sure of staying in the league. For that reason, the risk of defeat for the team from the Western Capital was even higher, because Can Tho was still inferior to B.Binh Duong in terms of personnel, as well as experience in tense matches.
Meanwhile, at Pleiku Stadium, HA Gia Lai hosted Hanoi Club in a match that was more of a media match than a match to compete for results.
Hanoi FC is sure to win the championship, and HA Gia Lai is not worried about relegation. The capital team is unlikely to use many of Vietnam Olympic players in this match, because they need to let those players rest, after a long series of continuous working days.
On HA Gia Lai's side, other Olympic players such as Xuan Truong and Van Thanh may also not compete due to health reasons.
In other matches, SHB Da Nang easily drew with Khanh Hoa at Hoa Xuan Stadium, Than Quang Ninh also easily drew with SL Nghe An at Cam Pha Stadium, and FLC Thanh Hoa was strong enough to beat former champion Quang Nam in Thanh Hoa.
Schedule of round 23 V-League 2018
September 18
5:00 p.m., Hoa Xuan Stadium: SHB Da Nang – Khanh Hoa
6:00 p.m., Cam Pha Stadium: Than Quang Ninh – SL Nghe An
September 19
5:00 p.m., Binh Duong Stadium: B.Binh Duong – Can Tho
5:00 p.m., Lach Tray Stadium: Hai Phong – Nam Dinh
5:00 p.m., Pleiku Stadium: HA Gia Lai – Hanoi Club
5:00 p.m., Thanh Hoa Stadium: FLC Thanh Hoa – Quang Nam
7:00 p.m., Thong Nhat Stadium: Ho Chi Minh City Club – Saigon FC
