HAGL is not yet safe.
The 1-1 draw with Thanh Hoa in round 24 of the V-League helped HAGL break their two-match losing streak; however, coach Le Quang Trai's team is still in the relegation zone.
While HAGL only managed 1 point in their last 3 matches, bottom-placed PVF-CAND earned 4 points, and second-to-last Da Nang had 7 points. The rise of the bottom teams has pushed the survival race into a tense situation, where every point could determine the fate of an entire team's season.
Da Nang FC (ranked 13th) defeated Hai Phong to reach 20 points, thus trailing HAGL by only 3 points. With a draw against The Cong Viettel , PVF-CAND (bottom of the table) also has 18 points, 5 points behind HAGL.
HAGL (in orange shirts) is still mired in difficulties.
PHOTO: MINH TU
Although only two rounds remain in the season, meaning a gap of 3 or 5 points is not insignificant, HAGL is in a precarious situation due to a very difficult schedule in the final stages of the season. While Da Nang FC (playing Ha Tinh and Thanh Hoa) and PVF-CAND (playing Hai Phong and SLNA) both face teams that have nothing left to play for, HAGL has to face very tough opponents. These include Hanoi FC in round 25 at Pleiku Stadium, followed by a treacherous away match against Becamex Ho Chi Minh City.
Hanoi FC is still in a fierce race for the top 3 with Ninh Binh. In fact, theoretically, coach Harry Kewell's team even has a chance to finish as runners-up. Besides their impressive form at the end of the season, the capital's representative also has a diverse and direct attacking philosophy after adopting Kewell's approach.
The Pleiku stadium, with its characteristic size and elevation, could pose a challenge to visiting teams in previous years, but this season, the "fortress" has lost its power. Having already lost to teams like PVF-CAND, Ha Tinh, and Becamex Ho Chi Minh City at home, HAGL could also suffer another defeat against Hanoi FC, a team with a strong desire to win and a formidable presence among the top teams in the V-League.
After facing Hanoi at home, HAGL must play a "relegation battle" against their fellow struggling team, Becamex Ho Chi Minh City, in the final round. Both teams are in a desperate fight to avoid relegation, making the final round a fierce battle. HAGL has only won 3 out of their last 15 away matches against Becamex Ho Chi Minh City.
HAGL's precarious situation
PHOTO: VPF
HAGL will avoid direct relegation if they secure at least 2 points, but to escape the play-off spot, the team from Pleiku needs 4 points (assuming Da Nang and PVF-CAND win both of their remaining matches). However, with their current performance, HAGL risks losing both matches against opponents who are either stronger or more ambitious.
There is no turning back.
Coach Le Quang Trai shared after the draw against Thanh Hoa: "The road ahead is still difficult and the whole team needs to try even harder. The season has extended to round 24, so the physical condition, fitness, and health of the players of every team are affected to some extent. HAGL is no exception."
According to Mr. Trai, HAGL's goal right now is to get points in every match, at least one point.
In this critical time, HAGL welcomes back technical director Vu Tien Thanh. Mr. Thanh will return to support coach Le Quang Trai in managing the team for the final two rounds, after a period of "secondment" to Ninh Binh Club.
HAGL (left) needs to get points in the last two matches.
PHOTO: DONG NGHI
Two years ago, Vu Tien Thanh made his debut as HAGL's Technical Director with a 2-0 victory against Hanoi FC at Pleiku Stadium. In that match, Thanh and coach Kiatisak Senamuang jointly directed the tactics, helping HAGL secure their first win and escape their crisis. Vu Tien Thanh and his players need the weight of history to boost their morale before the crucial match in round 25.
HAGL has been struggling recently because their playing style, heavily reliant on foreign players Marciel da Silva and Conceicao, has been figured out. HAGL's domestic players are either very young (the team from Pleiku has the lowest average age in the league) or lack the professional quality to revitalize the team.
HAGL can spring surprises against Ninh Binh and Nam Dinh when playing defensively and counter-attacking football. However, when forced to attack against teams of similar caliber like PVF-CAND and Ha Tinh, HAGL becomes ineffective and makes mistakes. Constant squad changes over the seasons have prevented HAGL from establishing a sufficiently solid playing structure to overcome challenges.
Backed into a corner, HAGL needs the kind of rebound they showed towards the end of previous seasons to finish safely.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/hagl-xuong-hang-neu-185260524133254653.htm
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