HAGL in a difficult position in the V-League relegation race

T PILLAR INJURY

Since the beginning of the 2024-2025 V-League season, the HAGL Board of Directors has been more daring in using "homegrown" players, giving opportunities to many young faces. One of the big discoveries of the mountain town team up to this point is Pham Ly Duc. At the age of 22, this central defender has become an important link in the defense system of the Pleiku home team. Coach Kim Sang-sik's call-up to play for the Vietnamese national team during FIFA Days last March has partly proven the talent of the central defender born in 2003.

Pham Ly Duc's role with HAGL is clearly shown through statistics since the start of V-League 2024 - 2025. After 16 rounds, this central defender has played every match for the mountain town team. Notably, he is also in the group of players with the most playing minutes for HAGL, when the rate of playing in the starting lineup reached 100%, and always played the full 90 minutes. With a height of 1.82 m, he has good fighting ability. He and foreign player Jairo Rodrigues are the best choices of the HAGL coaching staff for the task of blocking in front of the team's goal. He also participated in the attack effectively, contributing 2 goals and 1 assist.

Center back Pham Ly Duc (right) is likely to be out long-term due to a knee injury.

PHOTO: MINH TU

From round 17 of V-League 2024 - 2025, HAGL will not have the service of Pham Ly Duc. This central defender suffered a knee injury in the match between the mountain town team and The Cong Viettel Club in the National Cup. He is likely to have damaged ligaments and will have to sit out until the end of this season.

HAGL 'S DIFFICULT PROBLEM

Pham Ly Duc's inability to play is considered a major loss for HAGL, especially in the context of the season entering the final stage, while the mountain town team is in the bottom 4 teams and has to fight to stay in the league. HAGL's defense is not strong, and is even more fragile now. After 16 matches, the Pleiku home team has conceded 20 goals. In the V-League, HAGL's number of goals conceded is only less than Da Nang Club (27 goals conceded), SLNA (23 goals), Binh Dinh Club (22 goals) and Ho Chi Minh City Club (21 goals). In which, Da Nang, Binh Dinh and SLNA are all teams at the bottom of the table.

Coach Le Quang Trai's team was already in a difficult position, but now it is at a disadvantage due to the loss of players. Technical Director Vu Tien Thanh and head coach Le Quang Trai need to find a way to replace center-back Pham Ly Duc. The problem is that HAGL's force has not been strong before, so although Ly Duc has not been ranked among the top center-backs in domestic football, it still leaves a gap in terms of expertise in HAGL's defense. The most feasible option for HAGL at this time could be to bring Dung Quang Nho back to play center-back. This is also the method that the coaching staff of this team often applied in previous matches. Quang Nho is not good at playing center-back, but his strengths are his dedication, ability to compete and stick well thanks to his good physical foundation.

But HAGL's problem is not only in defense, but also in attack. Brazilian striker Washington Brandao received a lot of expectations when rejoining the mountain town team, but so far has only contributed 1 goal after 6 matches. In short, the Pleiku team is facing many challenges in the decisive stage of the season. At this time, fans will look forward to the resourcefulness of Mr. Vu Tien Thanh, who has experience in steering V-League teams through difficulties before.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/hagl-o-the-kho-trong-cuoc-dua-tru-hang-v-league-185250403203203914.htm