On song: Sông Lam Nghệ An are ready to face Thanh Hóa in the semi-final’s second leg of the National Cup today. — Photo vnbongda.vn |
Football
HÀ NỘI — Sông Lam Nghệ An (SLNA) will take on Thanh Hóa in the semi-final’s second leg of the National Cup today.
The game will be held at Vinh Stadium in the central province of Nghệ An.
Earlier, Thanh Hóa lost to SLNA 2-3 in the first leg at, Thanh Hóa Stadium. It will be a tough task for visitors as they must beat SLNA by two goals.
SLNA are in good form as they rank third in the national premier league with 32 points, while Thanh Hóa are in fourth place with 30 points.
SLNA are full of confidence after eight back to back wins in the V.League. After five weeks of rest, SLNA want to continue their undefeated run to reach the final of National Cup.
In the line-up of SLNA, there will two midfielders Phan Văn Đức and Phạm Xuân Mạnh who have competed in the Asian Games (ASIAD) in Indonesia in which Việt Nam came to fourth place for the first time ever.
Đức and Mạnh missed the ceremony to honour the Vietnamese sports delegation for their success at the ASIAD held in Hà Nội on Sunday to return home to prepare for the upcoming game.
“I and Đức want to return home soon to play for SLNA. We will have a thick competition from ASIAD, National Cup and then V.League, however, we are familiar with this move. We are young and ready to play against Thanh Hóa,” said Mạnh.
The other semi-final between Bình Dương and Hà Nội will take place on October 3 at Gò Đậu Stadium in the southern province of Bình Dương. — VNS