Midfielder Lương Xuân Trường (centre) seen in the match against Hà Nội FC. Photo thanhnien.vn

Football

HÀ NỘI   After a period of struggling in the aftermath of Việt Nam’s run to a silver medal at the AFC U23 Championship 2018, midfielder Lương Xuân Trường has found top form again to help lead V.League 1 Hoàng Anh Gia Lai (HAGL) to the top of the table.

On April 18, all eyes were on Pleiku Stadium in Gia Lai Province for the match between HAGL and 2020 V.League 1 runners-up Hà Nội FC. HAGL hadn't defeated the visitors in four years and victory was seen as key to solidifying their position as the title favourites.

Thanks to a thunderous long-range strike from Trường, HAGL beat Hà Nội 1-0. When the game finished, Trường burst into tears in the dressing room.

Coach Kiatisuk Senamuang of HAGL explained that Trường had released a lot of pent up feelings after years of struggles against Hà Nội and getting the money off his back was a huge relief.

Lương Xuân Trường burst into tears after the HAGL victory over Hà Nội FC. Photo tintuc.vn

Progression

It's clear to see how well HAGL's other stars like Nguyễn Công Phượng and Nguyễn Văn Toàn are playing as they bang in the goals, while defenders Kim Dong-su, Nguyễn Hữu Tuấn and Damir Memovic have played firmly in front of goalkeeper Huỳnh Tuấn Linh.

While the impact a midfielder like Trường has is less quantifiable, those in the know are in doubt about his importance to Senamuang's team.

Trường didn’t start this season well against Sài Gòn FC and his side fell to a 1-0 defeat.

In the match against Sông Lam Nghệ An (SLNA) at Pleiku Stadium, the struggles continued and HAGL only managed to secure a 2-1 comeback victory after an SLNA player was sent off.

However, since returning after the postponement of the V.League 1 season because of the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, Trường has come on leaps and bounds and he's now the beating heartbeat of the country's top side.

"During the rise of HAGL, Trường also gets inspiration. He understands what he needs to do, understands what needs to happen. He is playing harder and more decisively. It is beneficial for the overall result of HAGL,” said pundit Ngô Quang Tùng.

“Trường plays simply but is extremely effective. His touches of the ball all make it difficult for rivals to regain control. That helps HAGL form passing triangles,” Tùng added.

For coach Senamuang, Trường is the key player of HAGL and the Thai coach used the phrase "key player", not just "important player" to talk about Trường.

As well as leading with the ball, Trường has become Senamuang's captain on the pitch.

Lương Xuân Trường hopes he and his team will be very happy when the V.League 1 this year finishes. — Photo danviet.vn

Return to the national team

In the AFF Cup 2016, Trường was a key player for coach Nguyễn Hữu Thắng. Two years later, he helped lead his country to second place in the AFC U23 Championship 2018 in China.

Trường was tipped to soon become a key player of the senior national team after that, but his physical limitations meant he wasn't the first choice of South Korean coach Park Hang-seo.

In tournaments such as Asian Games 2018, AFF Cup 2018 and Asian Cup 2019, Đỗ Hùng Dũng, Nguyễn Huy Hùng, Phạm Đức Huy and Nguyễn Quang Hải were preferred in midfield, while Trường had to be content with coming off the bench.

In  October 2019, Trường suffered a knee ligament injury and needed eight months to recover so he contributed little to Việt Nam's rise to the top of their World Cup qualifying group.

Now that he's fit again though, Trường has a great opportunity to shine in the national team and midfielder Dũng's recent injury could put him back in the starting 11.

"There is almost no midfielder in Việt Nam who can play the box-to-box style like Dũng. He's important, but he can be replaced by the team. If coach Park can’t replace Dũng with one player, he must be flexible in terms of tactics,” said Tùng.

"At present, the Vietnamese team can play with Trường and Cao Văn Triền. The task will be clearly divided between these two players," Tùng said.

His abilities may have doubled compared to two years ago,” Tùng added.

Trường was the first Vietnamese and Southeast Asian player to play professionally in the K League 1 and the first Vietnamese to play in the AFC Champions League. He even won the Vietnamese Silver Ball award at the age of 21.

Now, he'll be hoping for another first by leading Việt Nam a step closer to the 2022 World Cup. — VNS