Thuy Loi University and HUPES won enthusiastically, many teams 'froze' because of the cold weather

Champion HUPES and third-place team TLU soon showed their superior class, affirming their position in the student playground.

The reigning champion of the national student football tournament, HUPES, after 2 years since their coronation in Nha Trang, still proves their strength in the student playground.

Under the leadership of coach Pham Minh, the capital team had a resounding 8-0 victory in their opening match against Tan Trao University. Dominating their opponents throughout the match and causing constant trouble with their cohesive play, HUPES players demonstrated their strength and class with quick and spectacular goals. Vu Viet Hoang alone became the first player of the final round to score a hat-trick. The remaining goals were scored by Minh Tu (2 goals), Truong An, Viet Anh and Huu Quang.

Trường ĐH Thủy Lợi và HUPES thắng tưng bừng, nhiều đội 'cóng' vì thời tiết quá lạnh- Ảnh 1. — Vu Viet Hoang (10, HUPES, middle) scored the first hat-trick of the tournament.

The overwhelming victory of the champion shows that they have quickly affirmed themselves as the number 1 candidate for this final round. This is not surprising because HUPES in March 2025 also won third place in the Vietnam Youth Student Award season 3.

In group D, Ton Duc Thang University and Vietnam National University of Agriculture drew 0-0. HUPES will take the top spot in this group, opening up a great opportunity to advance to the quarter-finals.

Trường ĐH Thủy Lợi và HUPES thắng tưng bừng, nhiều đội 'cóng' vì thời tiết quá lạnh- Ảnh 2. — Students of Thuy Loi University cheered enthusiastically.

Trường ĐH Thủy Lợi và HUPES thắng tưng bừng, nhiều đội 'cóng' vì thời tiết quá lạnh- Ảnh 3. — The joy of scoring a goal for the Thuy Loi University team

Also proving their class is the team that won third place in the 2023 national tournament, Thuy Loi University. But the good thing about coach Vu Van Trung and his team compared to HUPES is that they also won big but against a stronger opponent, the runner-up in 2023, the University of Agriculture and Forestry. The resounding 4-0 victory of Thuy Loi University - TLU was quite sweet, most of which came from set pieces through the feet of conductor Hoang Danh. Duc Hoan, Xuan Truong (twice) and Duong Manh scored excellently. The confident, open-minded way of playing, always knowing how to impose on the opponent shows that Thuy Loi University will not only be the strongest in Group C but also very formidable enough to compete for the championship with HUPES.

Trường ĐH Thủy Lợi và HUPES thắng tưng bừng, nhiều đội 'cóng' vì thời tiết quá lạnh- Ảnh 4. — The familiar expression of joy after victory of Coach Vu Van Trung and the Thuy Loi University team

More successful than HUPES, the Thuy Loi University team has won the national student championship many times in the past 15 years, most recently being the runner-up of the Vietnam Youth Student Football Tournament season 1 (2023) and season 2 (2024). Therefore, the return of coach Vu Van Trung and his team to the national student tournament, before the qualifying round of the northern region of the Vietnam Youth Student Tournament season 4, which will start in January 2026, will be a strong affirmation of the strength and traditional values that this team has created.

Trường ĐH Thủy Lợi và HUPES thắng tưng bừng, nhiều đội 'cóng' vì thời tiết quá lạnh- Ảnh 5. — The sadness of the University of Agriculture and Forestry team after Bui Xuan Truong (19) scored a double for the team.
Thuy Loi University

The weather was so cold that many teams had to play below their potential.

Most of the teams from the South encountered the biggest obstacle, which was the temperature in Hanoi these days, which was 11-13 degrees Celsius. On the opening day, the players of Hue University, Van Lang University, and Ho Chi Minh City University of Technical Education were shivering and soaked in the rain while playing. On November 18, although it stopped raining, the temperature dropped so low that the players from Ho Chi Minh City and the West froze and could not run. In the second half, most of them walked. Although they were equipped with cold-reducing jerseys, many players still coughed and had a fever right on the field.

Trường ĐH Thủy Lợi và HUPES thắng tưng bừng, nhiều đội 'cóng' vì thời tiết quá lạnh- Ảnh 6. — Principal of Dong Thap University Ho Van Thong went down to the field to encourage the team after the draw against Nha Trang University.

It was in such cold weather conditions that some outstanding teams in the qualifying round could not adapt, played awkwardly and showed poor performance.

Trường ĐH Thủy Lợi và HUPES thắng tưng bừng, nhiều đội 'cóng' vì thời tiết quá lạnh- Ảnh 7. — The match between Dong Thap University (left) and Nha Trang University was a thrilling draw.

After the first round, it can be seen that besides HUPES and Thuy Loi University, there is no team strong enough to enter the next round. The matches on November 20 between Van Lang University and Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Education and Hue University and Ho Chi Minh City University of Physical Education and Sports will hopefully reveal teams strong enough to cause trouble for the capital's representatives.