V-League schedule: HAGL easy to win, Hanoi Club and Coach Kewell in 'dangerous place'

The V-League round 9 schedule has many exciting matches, when HAGL has the chance to win the second victory in V-League, while Hanoi FC and The Cong Viettel both have to travel to football fields that are 'easy to go to, hard to return'.

"Difficult yet easy" match schedule for HAGL

The match between the team that never knew how to win (HAGL) and the team that never knew how to lose (The Cong Viettel ) in the previous round ended with a surprising ending, when HAGL won with a score of 2-1. The schedule was difficult, however, Mr. Le Quang Trai's students overcame the first hurdle.

Although they could not escape the bottom of the table (Thanh Hoa also won, and Da Nang drew), the dawn has returned to Pleiku Stadium after a series of "cloudy" days. In the match where The Cong Viettel unexpectedly played below their best and made many mistakes, HAGL also showed their mettle.

HAGL finds joy again

PHOTO: MINH TRAN

Coach Le Quang Trai’s young players defended tightly and aggressively, then took advantage of rare opportunities from set pieces and counterattacks to keep the 3 points in Pleiku. That is also the most likely way for HAGL to survive in the V-League. Being younger and more experienced than their opponents means they have to be more frugal if they want to stay in the league.

With the youngest squad in the tournament, a win can untie the psychological knot. However, HAGL will find it difficult to "transform" in just a few days. The problems of the mountain town team such as lack of attacking ideas, lack of concentration and lack of tenacity... are still intact. Coach Le Quang Trai's students are still playing, adjusting and perfecting themselves. HAGL can only "cut their coat according to their cloth", calculating each match, instead of thinking further with the current force.

However, the match against Nam Dinh FC in this round (5pm on October 31) could be a "difficult yet easy" challenge for HAGL. The difficulty lies in the fact that Nam Dinh is the defending champion, with a strong and classy foreign force of up to 13 people. But, the ease lies in the fact that the team from the South is on the decline.

After coach Vu Hong Viet left the chair, Nam Dinh FC still could not recover. The home team Thien Truong did not win the last 6 matches (2 draws, 4 losses) in all competitions. Thien Truong is no longer a support when Nam Dinh lost weakly to Hanoi Police FC (0-2) and Becamex TP.HCM (1-2), then drew with the bottom team Da Nang (1-1).

Nam Dinh Club (white shirt) is on a downward slide.

PHOTO: NAM DINH CLUB

The tight schedule and the "storm" of injuries have worn down Nam Dinh FC's fighting spirit. At the same time, the defending champion actually... has no clear playing style, other than lucky crosses for foreign players to handle. When players find their own way to shine, Nam Dinh FC will win, and vice versa.

Away from home, Nam Dinh FC only has 1 point after 3 matches at the beginning of the season (losing to SLNA). Therefore, HAGL has the right to expect that Pleiku will bring 3 points against the defending champion in this round. If Nam Dinh does not win away from home, HAGL will play well at home with 4 points after the last 2 matches.

If they continue to defend scientifically and take advantage of opportunities like they did against The Cong Viettel, HAGL can beat Nam Dinh to break away.

Hanoi Club in trouble

In the opposite direction, Hanoi FC must play away at Ha Tinh Stadium (6 p.m. on October 31), which has always been easy to go but hard to return.

The capital team is wearing a new shirt with the arrival of coach Harry Kewell. Playing with more passion, determination, directness and damage, Hanoi FC is gradually regaining the spirit of a "war horse" dreaming of the championship.

Hanoi Club (left) is preparing to meet a tough opponent named Ha Tinh.

PHOTO: HANOI CLUB

However, Ha Tinh FC is not an easy opponent to overcome. Mr. Nguyen Cong Manh's team still maintains the core defensive counter-attacking style that contributed to last season's success. This is never an easy opponent to defeat, especially when playing at home.

Hanoi FC has been "bogged down" many times in Ha Tinh, with results ranging from draws to losses. Having decoded the Central region representative, Coach Kewell's students have made a declaration strong enough for their return to the title race.

At Hang Day home stadium (7:15 p.m. on October 31), Hanoi Police Club will compete with rookie PVF-CAND.

Thanh Hoa FC faces a difficult challenge named The Cong Viettel (18:00, November 2), a team that is thirsty for victory after a painful defeat against HAGL in the previous round. Da Nang FC will play the reverse final against SLNA at Hoa Xuan (18:00, November 1).

The top team Ninh Binh has a chance to widen the gap with the chasing group in this round, when they welcome Becamex TP.HCM (ranked 10th) at home at 6:00 p.m. on November 1.

In the remaining match, two "phenomena" Ho Chi Minh City Police Club and Hai Phong will face each other at Thong Nhat Stadium at 7:15 p.m. on November 1.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/lich-thi-dau-v-league-hagl-de-thang-clb-ha-noi-va-hlv-kewell-vao-hiem-dia-185251030143606851.htm