Hue Football Club (in white jerseys) just had a resounding victory against Ha Tinh . Photo: Hue Football Club

Following the matches on May 17th, Group A witnessed a dramatic three-way battle. Hanoi Youth Club is leading with 17 points after 9 unbeaten matches since the start of the season. Close behind is Hue Football Club with 15 points, while PVF is in third place with 13 points – these are rather narrow gaps that could be closed at any time.

Returning to the Thanh Tri stadium, after the first leg and two second leg matches, besides the "devastating" victories against Phu Dong Youth Club (4-1) and Ha Tinh Sports Training Center (5-0), Hanoi Youth Club's strength also lies in its ability to turn the tide of the game. Proof of this is their 2-1 comeback victory against PVF, and their 1-1 draw against Hue Football Club after being behind and down a man at Tu Do Stadium.

On the opposite side of the pitch, although the start wasn't as expected, under the guidance of coach Le Chi Nguyen, Hue Football Club is increasingly showing itself to be a team with experience, discipline, pragmatism, and the ability to explode in the final stages.

After a "warm-up" that received considerable criticism, Hue Football Club has nevertheless built a solid foundation based on its ability to control the game, defend from afar, and most importantly, solve the "problem" of scoring goals by having more options to penetrate the opponent's defense.

Entering the second half of the season, despite facing personnel shortages, Hue Football Club surprised and thrilled fans with two resounding victories: 3-0 against SHB Da Nang and 4-1 against Ha Tinh.

Of course, these weren't formidable opponents, but these resounding victories helped the white-clad team "draw" fans closer together, while also restoring the confidence and prowess of a team that had competed in professional leagues for many years.

Hue Football Club players celebrate after scoring a goal against Ha Tinh. Photo: Hue Football Club.

The encounter with Hanoi Youth Club at Thanh Tri Stadium is the first away game for coach Le Chi Nguyen's team in the second half of the season, before extending their journey with three more trips to other opponents' stadiums to secure a place in the final.

For many teams, playing away against the league leaders is extremely disadvantageous as they have to cope with pressure both on and off the pitch, so the mentality will be to "fight to the death," and earning even one point is considered a success.

However, this is unlikely to happen for Coach Le Chi Nguyen's team, as their goal is not to avoid relegation. "Dealing with" the strongest opponent in Group A would help them seize the top spot, maintain momentum, and strengthen their belief in victory for the remainder of the season.

Conversely, with their top-of-the-table position and home advantage, Hanoi Youth Club will undoubtedly deploy an attacking strategy to showcase their strength and provide their home fans with an exciting match.

The upcoming rematch therefore promises to be a clash between two football philosophies. Hue Football Club will most likely employ a defensive-counterattacking style of play to lull their opponents into a false sense of security, then suddenly launch high-intensity pressing to exploit their mistakes.

Meanwhile, their top position and home advantage forced Hanoi Youth Club to constantly push forward and launch relentless attacks in order to seek victory and create a safe distance from the chasing team.

When the ball starts rolling, this will put considerable pressure on Hue Football Club, but it will also be an opportunity for the strikers of the ancient capital to set up counter-attack traps based on the skill and experience of a seasoned team.

Hanoi Youth Club has the advantage of home ground, youth, and form, while Hue Football Club is demonstrating experience, tenacity, and composure in the final stages of the season. Therefore, the match is likely to be a dramatic and exciting chase for the lead. And victory will go to the team with more "cunning." Let's wait and see.

HAN DANG

Source: https://huengaynay.vn/the-thao/ruot-duoi-ty-so-165896.html