SLNA “withstood” the first half to win 3 points
Before entering the match against SLNA Club tonight, Khanh Hoa Club (6 points/7 matches, 2 wins, 5 losses) is temporarily ranked 12/14, 3 points ahead of the penultimate team Hong Linh Ha Tinh and ahead of the bottom team. LPBank HAGL 4 points.
Meanwhile, SLNA (6 points, 1 win, 3 draws, 3 losses) is temporarily ranked right above Khanh Hoa due to better sub-index. In the most recent match in round 7, while Khanh Hoa won 2-1 against away team CAHN, SLNA lost to host Ho Chi Minh City with an unbelievable own goal from Vuong Van Huy in the 90th minute.
With a force of many young players born in 2001-2005, coach Phan Nhu Thuat has declared that this year’s season will be a place to help “gen Z” players have the opportunity to practice and grow up to prepare for the future. Future goals, SLNA plays inferior to the home team.
Khanh Hoa Club pushed the attacking team forward and created opportunities in the first 45 minutes. Unfortunately, either Van Hiep could not overcome the reflexes of goalkeeper Van Tien on the Nghe team; Or Van Tung’s close-range kick failed to hit the center of the ball and was unable to concretize his advantage.
On the other side of the front line, SLNA focuses almost exclusively on defense and hopes for a breakthrough coming from the independent handling of the foreign striker duo Olaha and Success.
SLNA (yellow shirt) and host Khanh Hoa drew 0-0 after the first 45 minutes of play. Photo: SLNA FC
The only dangerous situation that SLNA created towards Khanh Hoa Club’s goal appeared in the 45th minute. From a fixed ball, Dinh Hoang hung the ball into the penalty area for midfielder Zebic to participate in the attack with a dangerous header. The ball hit the post and missed.
After the break, coach Phan Nhu Thuat immediately made two changes to strengthen the defensive ability on both sides of SLNA: Van Huy and Van Thanh replaced Nam Hai and Van Viet.
SLNA boldly pushed the team to attack more, but midfielder Sesay Alie’s alertness helped Khanh Hoa’s defense successfully neutralize the away team’s attack.
In the 62nd minute, SLNA once again proved very dangerous in fixed situations. From a corner kick on the left wing, the ball was passed back out for Mai Sy Hoang to accurately cross into the penalty area for Van Thanh to head in from close range but could not beat the home team’s defensive “fence”.
SLNA played resiliently and found a close 1-0 victory over host Khanh Hoa tonight. Photo: Khanh Hoa FC
At the time when it seemed like the two teams would split the score without any goals being scored for 90 minutes, the turning point appeared in the 83rd minute. From a throw-in on the right wing, Olaha jumped high and headed back tactically to assist Mai. Sy Hoang finished in the penalty area past goalkeeper Ngoc Cuong, giving SLNA the lead.
With more than 10 minutes remaining in the match (5 minutes overtime), Khanh Hoa appeared quite stuck in approaching SLNA’s goal to find an equalizer.
Even if Olaha had shot more accurately in the 90+4 minute penalty area, the gap would have increased.
Winning the final match 2-0, SLNA (9 points) temporarily rose to 10th place on the overall table. This is the second victory of the “gen Z army” SLNA this season.
Khanh Hoa (6 points) is still in the top group holding the red light and must make a lot of effort in the spiral of relegation race.