Viet Nam News
Football
HA NOI — Bottom-of-the-league Nam Dinh FC want to earn points when they meet former champions Hoang Anh Gia Lai in the fourth round of the V. League this weekend.
Nam Dinh, who were just promoted to the National Premier League this year, currently have just one point after three matches and arrived at the Central Highland city of Pleiku several days before the match.
“We are here early so our players can recover after a long journey. It is just the start of the tournament but we have gained much experience from playing in the V. League. We must try in every match to make sure that we can stay in the league,” said coach Nguyen Van Sy.
“We understand that it will be tough for us and it has proven to be during first three matches. We only have one point. I must really encourage my players to work together to fix our problems. Our inaccurate finishing is the main reason for our poor results,” he added.
The former national team defender also admitted that his two foreign players have not integrated well with the team and kept up with the pace of the tournament, but he hopes that they will try harder and help Nam Dinh in the coming matches.
“In the match with Hoang Anh Gia Lai, we will try to take home at least one point,” he said.
The host side have also not reached their best form, earning just two points from two matches.
Against Nam Dinh, they will not have talented midfielder Nguyen Tuan Anh, who only returned to action this season but is sidelined again after injuring himself last week.
Other players, such as striker Nguyen Cong Phuong and midfielders Luong Xuan Truong and Vu Van Thanh, have spent a lot of energy at the Asian Cup qualifying match against Jordan last week, and may not be in their best form.
Nguyen Duc Thang, the coach of Song Lam Nghe An, also wants a surprise result against FLC Thanh Hoa this week.
The former V. League winners have not done well in recent seasons and the same is happening this year, after achieving only one draw and being ranked fourth from the bottom.
However, their remarkable result at the AFC Cup is a strong motivation to do well in the local competition.
Song Lam Nghe An are top of Group H in the tournament and have nearly qualified for the next stage.
Thang and his players have prepared extensively for the match, and they arrived in Thanh Hoa four days ahead to practice.
“We were not lucky in our first few matches, but we are confident about being the visiting team against Thanh Hoa. Apart from the injured Ngoc Toan, our other players are in good condition,” said Thang, who also expressed his worries about the four players who just completed their national duty this week.
“They just came home after a long trip from Jordan and only joined the team for two training sessions. They may not be on their best form on Sunday. Thanh Hoa has spent a lot of money on the squad and coach, but I think that they have not found their rhythm. It will be an opportunity for Song Lam Nghe An,” Thang added.
Ha Noi FC will welcome back their captain, Nguyen Van Quyet, after his ban from last season. However, they have a list of injured players ahead of their visit to Becamex Binh Duong at the Go Dau Stadium.
Defender Doan Van Hau and two midfielders, Nguyen Thanh Chung and Truong Van Thai Quy, who have been injured since January’s Asian U23 Championship, are not yet fit to play.
Coach Chu Dinh Nghiem also has the midfielder Duy Khanh and defender Van Dung, who suffered from a herniated disc, while Quang Hai, Dinh Trong and Duy Manh have just returned home from Jordan.
After three games, Ha Noi are second with six points and one match to play.
Binh Duong will have their best players available, including national striker Nguyen Anh Duc, who scored a goal in Viet Nam’s 1-1 draw against Jordan.
In the other matches, Quang Ninh Coal will play defending champions Quang Nam at home, Sanna Khanh Hoa will face HCM City FC, SHB Da Nang will entertain Sai Gon FC, and Hai Phong will host Can Tho. — VNS