Thanh Hóa drops victory, shares points dramatically with SLNA

Round 19 of V-League witnessed a dramatic showdown between Thanh Hóa and Sông Lam Nghệ An concluding with a tense 1-1 draw.

Thanh Hóa hosted Sông Lam Nghệ An at home under circumstances where their lineup was affected by several key absences. From the very first minutes, Sông Lam Nghệ An was the team that started better by actively controlling the ball and organizing attacks, creating certain pressure on the opponent's half. However, despite controlling the game, the final combinations of the visiting team lacked the necessary precision to convert into clear goals.

Meanwhile, Thanh Hóa opted for a solid approach on their home turf, focusing on defensive numbers and waiting for counter-attacking opportunities. The prolonged tug-of-war made the match balanced, with very few gaps created for both teams in the first half.

The turning point of the match occurred in the 29th minute when central defender Hoàng Văn Khánh, in an effort to stop an attacking situation by the home team, fouled forward Ngọc Mỹ. After consulting VAR, the referee decided to issue a direct red card, causing Sông Lam Nghệ An to play with a numerical disadvantage quite early.

Not stopping there, the visiting team continued to suffer losses when foreign central defender Garcia sustained an injury and had to leave the field. The simultaneous loss of two pillars in the defensive line caused SLNA to face many difficulties in maintaining solidity against the opponent's attacking waves.

Taking advantage of the numerical superiority, Lê Văn Thắng unleashed a powerful long-range shot late in the first half, defeating goalkeeper Cao Văn Bình, helping Thanh Hóa advance to lead 1-0.

In the second half, despite playing with fewer players and being continuously pressed, Sông Lam Nghệ An still showed resilience. In the 70th minute, from a quick counter-attack, Fortes assisted for Mạnh Quỳnh to finish neatly, equalizing the score 1-1. The remaining minutes witnessed intense attacking efforts by Thanh Hóa but no additional goals, the match concluded with a dramatic draw.

Round 19 V-League: Victory belongs to the home team

Đà Nẵng loses again to SLNA, continues to struggle at the bottom of the V-League table