Coach Thanh Cong revives Ha Tinh Club

Hong Linh Ha Tinh held CAHN to a draw - Photo: CAHN F C

Ha Tinh just had a goalless draw with CAHN in round 22. This is the 14th draw of the Hong mountain team this season. The series of consecutive draws in the first leg made them jokingly called "Hoa Tinh". However, in that paradox, the team of coach Nguyen Thanh Cong is showing an amazing journey of revival. From a team that was almost relegated last season, Hong Linh Ha Tinh has become an interesting phenomenon of V.League this year.

In the 2023/24 season, Ha Tinh finished second to last in the rankings and had to play a play-off to stay in the league. No one believed that the team could make a difference after only one year of struggling. In particular, Ha Tinh does not possess a famous star squad or strong financial resources like CAHN, Hanoi or Nam Dinh. However, after 22 rounds this season, coach Nguyen Thanh Cong and his team are in fourth place with 35 points. This is the highest number of points they have ever achieved in a season since playing in the V.League in 2020. The Red Mountain team scored 22 goals and only conceded 14 times - a clear balance between attack and defense, something that not many "underdog" teams can maintain.

It is worth mentioning that in those 14 draws, Ha Tinh mostly faced teams that were considered stronger, such as CAHN, Thanh Hoa, Nam Dinh, The Cong Viettel or Ha Noi. Those were not boring matches, but resilient, reasonable performances, sometimes even better than the opponents. The recent 1-1 draw against CAHN is a clear example. Facing the national team and expensive foreign players, coach Nguyen Thanh Cong's team still stood firm, organized a tight game and even almost won all 3 points.

Hong Linh Ha Tinh successfully won points against the "big guys" of V.League - Photo: CAHN

The major credit for this achievement must go to coach Nguyen Thanh Cong. The stability he brought to Ha Tinh is the foundation for the impressive unbeaten streak and the current safe position on the rankings.

In terms of budget, Ha Tinh cannot compete with the "giants" of V.League. But instead of complaining about that, Coach Nguyen Thanh Cong chose to make do with limited resources. They did not make lavish purchases, but knew how to exploit and maximize what they had.

Names like Adou Minh, Viktor Le, Trong Hoang or Luong Xuan Truong are proof. Among them, Adou is not only strong in the middle of the field but also creates a coherent connection between the lines. Viktor Le is gradually proving his worth by continuously contributing to important goals. Trong Hoang, at the age of 36, is still a symbol of perseverance, playing as a silent leader on the right wing. Xuan Truong, although no longer in his prime, still maintains a cool head and the necessary tactical vision in tense matches.

It is impossible not to mention the way coach Nguyen Thanh Cong built a tight defensive-counterattacking style of play, effective pressing and turning every point into gold. Ha Tinh may not be flashy or rushed, but they know when to keep the ball, when to break the rhythm and when to deliver the finishing blow. That is the mark of a team that knows itself, understands itself and is led by an experienced coach.

With four rounds left in the season, Ha Tinh are almost guaranteed to stay in the league. But the bigger thing is that they have built their identity, creating a foundation for the future without relying on stars or huge budgets. If they continue to maintain this form, the Red Mountain team can absolutely dream of a place in the top 5 - something that seemed impossible less than a year ago.

From the joked-about “Hoa Tinh” to one of the most stable teams of the season, Ha Tinh is writing an inspiring story in V.League 2024/25. Not flashy, not noisy but persistent and very brave.

Source: https://znews.vn/hlv-thanh-cong-hoi-sinh-clb-ha-tinh-post1552226.html