A glorious past
 |
| The Hue City Supporters' Club heads to Quy Nhon to cheer on their hometown team. Photo: Hue Football Club. |
It's been a long time since Hue football had the opportunity to meet a familiar opponent from the past , Lam Dong . Thirty years ago, both Hue and Lam Dong football teams played in the top division of Vietnamese football. And Coach Doan Phung was the name associated with both teams.
Mr. Phung rose to prominence at Tu Do Stadium before moving to Lam Dong to play and achieve fame. While coaching Lam Dong, Doan Phung was recognized in Vietnamese football circles for his coaching skills and extensive connections within the complex football environment of the late 20th century...
Back then, Lam Dong was a tough team; strong teams like the Army Club, Saigon Port, Customs, and Ho Chi Minh City Police always lost points when they played in Da Lat. The press at the time said that the altitude of Da Lat stadium made it impossible for players from the lowlands to perform well. But the most important role was played by the "magician" Doan Phung. There was even a time when he led his team to defeat the team from the ancient capital right on Tu Do Stadium with a score of 4-2 in the 1996 season…
In the summer of 2000, Hue's final match of the season was against Lam Dong. A win would guarantee Hue's survival, while a loss would mean waiting for the result of the Nam Dinh vs. Da Nang match at Chua Cuoi Stadium... That day it was raining in Da Lat, so the visiting team's coaching staff and players went onto the field first. It was 15 minutes later before the Lam Dong team appeared. Coach Doan Phung walked onto the field and went to the Hue team's bench, where the Director of the Hue Department of Sports and Physical Education, Ngo Van Tran, was sitting thoughtfully. He said loudly in his Hue accent: "Why are you so tense, Mr. Tran?" then laughed. The meaning behind Coach Doan's laugh was unclear. But Lam Dong lost to Hue 0-2 and were relegated, ending a golden era for Lam Dong football with the rather flattering nickname: "The Green Cyclone of the Highlands," closely associated with the name Doan Phung...
After the 2000 season, Lam Dong football was relegated and almost disappeared from the map of Vietnamese professional football. Coach Doan Phung also spent more than 20 years with Hue football, experiencing many ups and downs, until he retired from coaching.
Fate
 |
| Coach Le Chi Nguyen and his players review their tactics before the match against Lam Dong. Photo: Hue Football Club. |
Meeting again in a crucial match that will decide a promotion spot to the First Division next season, both Hue and Lam Dong are highly determined.
Coach Le Chi Nguyen's team is a young team with key players who rose to prominence while playing for the Hue U19 team two years ago, such as Vi Dinh Thuong, Tuan Khai, Anh Vu, Tuan Kiet, and Dang Khoa, along with some veterans who have played in the First Division in previous seasons, such as Viet Hieu and Van Trong…
Of the 30 players in Hue's squad, 27 were trained by Hue FC itself. Three forwards, Nguyen Huu Tuan, Vu Ba Hai Duong, and Cong Hau, are on loan from The Cong Viettel.
After 12 matches in the group stage, Hue Football Club earned 22 points with 6 wins, 4 draws, and 2 losses. It's clear that the young team, under the guidance of coach Le Chi Nguyen, is playing increasingly consistently. Evidence of this is their impressive run in the second leg of the group stage, with Le Viet Hieu and his teammates achieving 4 wins, 1 draw, and only losing the final match against PVF when Hue had already secured their place in the finals.
With the majority of their squad having played together since their youth teams, Hue's strength lies in their collective play and the excellent coordination of their players. Under coach Le Chi Nguyen, Hue Football Club's style of play is quite diverse, with a balanced approach across all three lines, particularly the mobility of the midfield and wing players. Hue's strength lies in their direct attacks, culminating in powerful shots from their attacking midfielders.
Hue Football Club's opponent, Lam Dong FC, is also a young team with a squad mostly under 25 years old. After a 14-year absence from the First Division, Lam Dong football has decided to rebuild with a team comprised of players from Viettel, Khanh Hoa, Binh Thuan (formerly), and young players from the Lam Dong football academy. After 12 rounds, Lam Dong has earned 25 points with 7 wins, 4 draws, and only 1 loss. This achievement puts the team at the top of the table and officially secures their place in the Final Round.
After nearly 30 years, Hue football and Lam Dong football are having a reunion filled with history and rivalry. Both teams have their own strengths and weaknesses, and the promotion spot will go to the more resilient team.
Source: https://huengaynay.vn/the-thao/cho-tin-vui-tu-san-quy-nhon-166671.html
