SLNA changes coach, changes fortunes in V-League.

SLNA defeated TP HCM 2-1 in Round 11 of the V-League 2023 on June 6th, in the debut match of new head coach Phan Như Thuật.

Prior to this round, SLNA had gone through three consecutive matches with draws and losses, facing the risk of failing to qualify for the top 8 to compete for the championship in V-League 2023. Therefore, the management of the Nghe An team accepted the resignation of coach Nguyen Huy Hoang and appointed former star player Phan Nhu Thuat as his replacement.

Coach Phan Như Thuật (left) wins his debut match in the V-League. Photo: Thành Chung.

In his debut match, coach Phan Như Thuật, born in 1984, instructed his players to calmly control the ball, use short passes from the defense, and gradually put pressure on Ho Chi Minh City. When they advanced into the opponent's third of the field, they would often unexpectedly deliver high balls into the penalty area for their foreign players.

From this attack, the home team scored two consecutive goals, both from crosses from the left wing. In the 18th minute, Mai Sỹ Hoàng received the ball after a corner kick and crossed it into the box for Jordy Soladio to tap it in from close range to open the scoring. Seven minutes later, Jordy Soladio provided the assist when he headed the ball back after a cross from the left wing, allowing Michael Olaha to slide in and score.

SLNA effectively disrupted Ho Chi Minh City's lines, preventing their opponents from controlling the ball and launching attacks. However, a momentary lapse in concentration, resulting in Tran Nam Hai losing possession in the 35th minute, allowed Ho Chi Minh City to score. Hoang Vu Samson punished them with a spectacular goal, striking from approximately 35 meters out and sending the ball straight into the top corner of the net. Goalkeeper Nguyen Van Viet stretched to his limit but couldn't reach the ball. This goal also highlighted SLNA's defensive weaknesses this season. Since the start of the season, they have only managed one clean sheet, a 0-0 draw against Thanh Hoa in round 2.

Jordy Soladio scored one goal and assisted another to help SLNA defeat TP HCM. Photo: Thanh Chung

In the second half, coach Phan Như Thuật made three substitutions, bringing on Hồ Văn Cường, Đinh Xuân Tiến, and Trần Đình Hoàng to control the midfield and intercept TP HCM's attacking moves from afar.

This multi-layered defensive system prevented the visiting team from building up play. Coach Vu Tien Thanh's team became impatient, hastily trying to cross the ball high in an attempt to get closer to Van Viet's goal. However, those crosses were inaccurate, and not a single shot on target was found. The most significant opportunity for Ho Chi Minh City was a shot from outside the penalty area by Uong Ngoc Tien in the fourth minute of added time, which narrowly missed the target.

After defeating Ho Chi Minh City FC, coach Phan Nhu Thuat had a successful debut, leading his team to 10th place with 12 points. They are only three points behind eighth-placed Nam Dinh, so they still have hope of competing for the championship in the second phase instead of having to fight to avoid relegation. In contrast, Ho Chi Minh City FC remains stuck in second-to-last place, with only seven points after 11 matches, one point more than bottom-placed Da Nang .

Lam Thoa

Source link: https://vnexpress.net/slna-thay-tuong-doi-van-o-v-league-4614416.html