Thanh Hoa Club is exhausted, if HAGL doesn't win now then... when?

Thanh Hoa Club - a suitable opponent of HAGL

HAGL dropped to 10th place after a 0-1 loss at Ho Chi Minh City Club. In the last 14 matches, coach Le Quang Trai and his team have only won 2. Declining form, combined with a thin and weak squad, has made it impossible for the mountain town representative to maintain the upward momentum at the beginning of the season. If they continue to fail to win in round 16, HAGL will be dragged into a fierce relegation race, where opponents such as Da Nang, SLNA, Binh Dinh or Quang Nam are waiting.

However, the advantage for HAGL in round 16 is that technical director (GĐKT) Vu Tien Thanh and his students will face Thanh Hoa Club, which is also in difficulty.

HAGL (blue shirt) regressed

On the evening of March 4, Thanh Hoa FC lost 0-1 to Hai Phong at home in the round of 16 of the National Cup, thereby becoming the former champion. In just 1 month, coach Velizar Popov and his team were eliminated from two arenas (Southeast Asia Cup C1 and National Cup), so only V-League remains to strive.

Thanh Hoa FC used to lead the V-League, but it is hard to believe that Nguyen Thai Son and his teammates have gone nearly 4 months without knowing the taste of victory. The last time the Thanh team took all 3 points (in all competitions) was against Da Nang FC in the V-League on November 20, 2024, when Thanh Hoa beat Da Nang with a score of 1-0.

Since then, Thanh Hoa FC has gone 10 matches without a win in all competitions (7 draws, 3 losses), leading to being eliminated in 2 of the 3 tournaments it participated in. In the V-League, Thanh Hoa FC, from the top, has now fallen to third place, and could even be relegated to fifth place if they do not win in this round.

Actually, it is hard to blame Coach Popov. Because the strength of Thanh Hoa Club... is only that. Compared to last season, the Thanh Hoa team is even weaker, when striker Rimario Gordon was injured. The core of Thanh Hoa's squad has long been mostly composed of mid-level or young players. Coach Popov and his team have won 3 titles in the past 2 years, mainly thanks to the close-knit playing style, solidarity, and the ability to read the game and develop the impressive player abilities of the Bulgarian strategist.

Thanh Hoa Club (yellow shirt) became the former champion of the National Cup

However, it takes flour to make glue. Mr. Popov cannot keep doing things forever, having used up all the best from Thanh Hoa players. This season, the Thanh Hoa team also has a tight schedule, having to play 5 more matches in the Southeast Asian Cup C1, and 1 match in the National Super Cup final (23 matches since the beginning of the tournament).

The frequency of 2 matches/week makes Thanh Hoa Club no longer able to follow the physical style of play, having to run and run continuously as proposed by Mr. Popov. In the most recent matches, Doan Ngoc Tan and his teammates had to run "tired" to play defensive counter-attacks, only able to lurk and wait for the opponent to make a mistake, instead of playing fast and strong like last season.

HAGL seize the opportunity?

Limited force once caused Thanh Hoa Club to slip in the second leg of V-League 2023 and 2023 - 2024, despite playing well in the first leg. The risk is happening again this season, when the sad days of coach Popov and his team have not ended.

Facing an opponent who has not won in 10 matches, HAGL has a good chance to take 3 points. In the first leg, HAGL played well to lead the whole match, before a moment of negligence at the last minute caused the representative of the mountain town to equalize.

Mr. Vu Tien Thanh helps HAGL overcome difficulties?

HAGL has been in decline, with inconsistent playing quality over the past 3 or 4 months. HAGL’s problem is no different from Thanh Hoa’s. With only average players, it is difficult to demand better performance. The team from the mountain town has to play defensive counter-attacks, waiting for the opponent to make mistakes, instead of imposing their playing style to find victory.

The match between Thanh Hoa and HAGL on March 9 in the round of 16 will be where the team that makes fewer mistakes will win. The advantage for HAGL is physical strength. While the mountain town team has a full week off, Thanh Hoa has to play the National Cup in the middle of the week.

Technical Director Vu Tien Thanh himself also has a connection with Thanh Hoa Stadium. When he was still leading Ho Chi Minh City FC, he and his students won 2-1 in the second leg against Thanh Hoa on away field, thereby making a big step forward in the relegation race. Last season, Mr. Vu Tien Thanh's HAGL, despite being in crisis, still won 2-1 at Thanh Hoa Stadium in the second leg to escape the bottom of the table.

If that fate returns, HAGL will see the light at the end of the tunnel.

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Source: https://thanhnien.vn/clb-thanh-hoa-duoi-suc-hagl-khong-thang-bay-gio-thi-cho-den-bao-gio-185250305111749604.htm