XSKT Can Tho - Saigon: "heavyweight candidate" for the bottom position?

18 years of professional football in Vietnam has shown that any team with poor quality foreign players, weak strikers and midfielders can be supplemented and replaced. However, if they are weak financially, it will be very difficult to stay in the league, which is what XSKT Can Tho and the Western teams always have to face. Coach Dinh Hong Vinh and his team are in poor form with 10 matches with only draws and losses before welcoming the visiting team Saigon.

When there is not enough "white rice, clear water"

After the victory over Saigon at Thong Nhat Stadium (round 9), the Tay Do team had 10 consecutive matches without a win. Including 2 unfortunate draws with direct rival TP HCM (1-1, 3-3) both when they were leading. Upon taking over the Tay Do team, coach Dinh Hong Vinh brought about positive changes in the playing style of XSKT Can Tho, the midfield was more willing to hold the ball.

But when the poor financial situation affected the team's performance, this season, when the coaching staff and a series of players were "changed", it helped the team abandon the "clack-clack" style of play under coach Vu Quang Bao.

The worry of “bread and butter” is weighing heavily on Can Tho players. Photo: Internet

But due to their poor family background, there were no significant additions at the beginning of the XSKT Can Tho season and the recent transfer period, while good players like Huu Dung and Anh Tuan left. The two names Ngoc Anh and Huu Thang (HCMC Club) came to Can Tho Stadium when they were playing for their old team and only sat on the bench.

Many people say that if XSKT Can Tho had paid the full amount, FLC Thanh Hoa would not have demanded players so urgently. Without number 7 Huu Dung, who plays as a central midfielder, the Western team lacks someone to control the midfield and provide the ball for the two foreign players Wander and Patiyo. This duo has scored 16/20 goals for XSKT Can Tho and is always dangerous if they are encouraged by timely bonuses like in previous seasons.

In fact, even when the Tay Do audience is flying high after the 1-0 victory at Lach Tray Stadium, or the 1-1 draw at FLC Thanh Hoa Stadium, those who are knowledgeable about V-League football are still worried about this team.

Even before the second leg ended, many people had already named XSKT Can Tho as a “strong candidate” for the bottom spot. Western football teams are still considered the “orphaned moon” of Vietnamese football and almost every year there are teams that are relegated.

The burden on the coach's shoulders

With a squad of mostly “mercenaries”, the promises and encouragement from the club’s leadership only had an effect at the beginning of the season. As the season came to an end, when the club had not yet disbursed the promised funds, the players’ legs became heavier.

Before this important match, XSKT Can Tho officially brought back CEO Nguyen Thanh Danh to replace coach Dinh Hong Vinh. Mr. Vinh was promoted to Technical Director by the club.

The factors of the team's expertise, now with the "tired" competitive spirit, no matter how good coach Dinh Hong Vinh is, it will be difficult to revive the team, so he had to give up his seat to General Director Nguyen Thanh Danh.

Compared to the first leg at Thong Nhat Stadium where Saigon lost 1-2, the away team has changed from the manager, coach and players in a much stronger direction.

In the hands of new coach Thanh Cong, there are more bright names such as: Marvin, Trung Hieu (Quang Ninh), Quoc Phuong, Quang Vinh (FLC Thanh Hoa). Surely Saigon will choose the home field of the Tay Do team as the turning point of the sprint to escape the death position.

Patiyo is still an important striker of XSKT Can Tho. Photo: Internet

After 2 consecutive losses against strong teams like S.Khanh Hoa, FLC Thanh Hoa, new coach Thanh Cong has learned many lessons in arranging the team. With the addition of Quoc Phuong, Saigon's wing attacks have become much faster and more unpredictable, this player with a rather strange hairstyle also has very classy free kicks.

Therefore, the match with Saigon is considered an opportunity for the leaders of Can Tho Lottery Club to motivate the players to compete to earn 3 points against a direct opponent who is running away from relegation.

I wonder if the home team players will share the burden with coach Nguyen Thanh Danh, who has just taken the hot seat, to win and save themselves in the V-League coming to an end?