Determining 12 teams entering the 2025 National U.21 Finals: Dong Thap wins absolutely

U.21 Dong Thap won all

Dong Thap U.21 had an impressive match when they defeated the host in the qualifying round of the 2025 National U.21 Championship. With reasonable tactics and a determined fighting spirit, the Southwestern team proved their superior ability. The young players showed excellent skills, bringing joy to fans at Thanh Long Stadium (HCMC).

Falling into a group with the host U.21 Ho Chi Minh City, considered quite strong, led by coach Lu Dinh Tuan, it seemed that U.21 Dong Thap only hoped to win second place in the group to qualify for the final round. However, coach Bui Van Dong and his team did more than that.

- Ảnh 1. — Exciting match between U.21 Ho Chi Minh City and U.21 Dong Thap (right)

In the decisive match for the top spot at Thanh Long Stadium, Dong Thap U.21 demonstrated the performance of the players who had just matured through the U.19 tournament when they won third place. They played on par with the home team, which had many older players. Although coach Lu Dinh Tuan left out a few key players because they were sure of reaching the finals, that did not mean that the young team of Ho Chi Minh City intended to "give up". On the contrary, they still played with passion and made the match between the two sides fierce and tense at times. The climax was the second yellow card for Hoai Phong of Ho Chi Minh City U.21 in the 7th minute for a bad move against a Dong Thap player.

- Ảnh 2. — The match between U.21 Dong Thap and U.21 Ho Chi Minh City was very fierce.

Striker Huu Thien (10) scored early in the 2nd minute for the Southwestern representative. Then Nguyen Phi Hung (11) equalized for Ho Chi Minh City. But the joy was short-lived when Bui Quoc Duy sealed the 2-1 victory for Dong Thap U.21. This victory helped coach Bui Van Dong and his team have 4 wins, 12 points and become the only team to win absolutely in the qualifying round of the U.21 tournament this year.

- Ảnh 3. — The referee had to work hard in front of the hot heads of the two teams Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Thap.

- Ảnh 4. — The scuffle between the two teams had the intervention of both the coach and the referee.

There were no big surprises in the final round on July 14 when the strong teams all "held hands" to enter the final round including U.21 Hanoi, The Cong Viettel (group A), PVF, SLNA (group B), HAGL, Da Nang (group C), Dong Thap, Ho Chi Minh City (group D) and Tay Ninh, Dak Lak (group E). There was only drama when the 11th ticket fell into the hands of PVF-CAND, helping them become one of the 2 third teams with good results present in Ba Ria (Ho Chi Minh City). In the final match, PVF-CAND drew 1-1 with The Cong Viettel to get 4 points, just enough to eliminate 3 teams with 3 points: CAHN, Quang Nam and Binh Dinh (the teams CAHN and Binh Dinh had to give up the result with the team ranked 5th in the group). Thus, there will be 2 teams "from PVF's furnace" present in the upcoming final round.

- Ảnh 5. — The match between PVF-CAND (blue shirt) and The Cong Viettel helped them win a ticket to the final round.

Meanwhile, the mountain town team also participated in 2 teams but HAGL II team was not lucky. Although they won the last round against Ho Chi Minh City Club 4-2, they only finished fourth in Group E, above Dong Nai team. However, the presence of the defending champion HAGL with quality players such as Dinh Quang Kiet, Hoang Minh Tien, Tran Gia Bao, Nguyen Minh Tam, Moi Se will promise to create an explosion in the final round.

- Ảnh 6. — HAGL (left) won Quang Nam 3-1

- Ảnh 7. — Moses and his teammates' joy of scoring

The 12th place belongs to the home team, Ho Chi Minh City Club, the team ranked 3rd in Group E. Thus, there will be 2 Ho Chi Minh City teams present in the final round, promising to create tension and excitement.

The draw and match schedule for the final round will take place at 10am on July 16 at the VFF headquarters. The 12 teams will be divided into 3 groups and will compete from July 19 to July 31 at 3 stadiums: Ba Ria, Long Tam and Tan Hung (HCMC).