'Industry insiders' speak out

Former coach and players of Dong Thap start the season with a victory.

The clash between Van Hien University and Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry in Group 7 was the highlight match of yesterday's competition. Notably, Van Hien University boasts a highly professional coaching staff, with head coach Nguyen Anh Tong having previously led Dong Thap FC in the First Division, and assistant coach Nguyen Van Ngan being a former captain of the Dong Thap team in the V-League. Meanwhile, Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry is also a name that has made a name for itself in 11-a-side student football.

'Người trong nghề' lên tiếng- Ảnh 1. — Van Hien University team *(left)* won convincingly despite playing with ten men from the second half.

The two teams provided the audience with tense moments of competition, with continuous attacking exchanges. Van Hien University's team possessed many agile and technically skilled players, favoring a passing game with lots of movement, but also demonstrating strength when needed. Coach Nguyen Anh Tong's team opened the scoring in the first half through Nguyen Thanh Lich. In the second half, Van Hien University faced difficulties, having to play with ten men from the 53rd minute after Tran Duy Khanh received two yellow cards and was sent off. Despite this, with the experience of true professionals, Coach Nguyen Anh Tong and his assistant Nguyen Van Ngan steered their team to play a sharp counter-attacking game. Even with a man down, striker Thanh Lich continued to shine, helping Van Hien University secure a 2-0 victory over Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry.

THE FIRST AT-TRICK

Compared to the first tournament in 2023, the Ho Chi Minh City University of Agriculture and Forestry team has undergone many changes, especially with the absence of their key striker, Le Nguyen Truong Nhan. However, coach Phan Hoang Vu has promptly added new players from the first-year university cohort, who possess good physiques and have made rapid progress. In the first match against the University of Science - Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City (University of Science) on the morning of January 9th, the Ho Chi Minh City University of Agriculture and Forestry team, with its significantly superior players, dominated the game from the start.

Notably, the players from Ho Chi Minh City University of Agriculture and Forestry showed great strength in long passes with accurate placement. One such situation led to the opening goal for Coach Phan Hoang Vu's team in the 30th minute, when Nguyen Cong Hai held off his defender and finished accurately in a one-on-one situation with the opposing goalkeeper. From a similar build-up, with a bit more luck, Ho Chi Minh City University of Agriculture and Forestry could have doubled their lead before halftime. Conversely, the University of Science team had two fairly fast wingers, but their attacking moves lacked sharpness and were easily thwarted by the opposing defense. Ho Chi Minh City University of Agriculture and Forestry added two more goals through Pham Van Tinh and Nguyen Le Anh Minh to defeat the University of Science with a final score of 3-0.

In the remaining match of Group 6, the Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics and Finance (HCMUTF) team easily secured a resounding 5-0 victory against the Ho Chi Minh City Hung Vuong University team. The first goal, a direct free-kick in the 2nd Vietnam Youth Student Tournament - THACO Cup 2024, was scored by Dinh Son Hung, giving HCMUTF the lead in the 6th minute. The early opening goal gave Coach Le Van Khoa's team a mental advantage and allowed them to easily implement their game plan. Son Hung was particularly impressive, contributing three goals – the first hat-trick of the THACO Cup 2024. Nguyen Duy Quang and Nguyen Bao Duy were the other two players who scored, helping HCMUTF secure their first three points.