Tension right from the group stage, shocks can happen

Exciting from the group stage

The 3rd Vietnam Youth Student Football Tournament 2025 - THACO Cup (TNSV THACO Cup) is following an unpredictable trajectory. This is the first time in the history of the tournament that both the defending champion and the defending runner-up have stopped in the qualifying round. At the group stage draw ceremony yesterday afternoon (February 27), only 5 out of 12 teams had reached the final round last season.

Many interesting new faces have appeared, including Thanh Hoa University of Culture, Sports and Tourism (VH-TT-DL), the team that eliminated the runner-up Thuy Loi University. Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology - VNU-HCM also participated in the final round for the first time, along with Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry. With the return of former champion Hue University, this year's race will be exciting right from the start.

Quy Nhon University team surprised everyone when they entered the final round.

Because the fall of the champion and runner-up last season showed that the level of student football has been significantly narrowed. Despite having the home field advantage, the team of the University of Water Resources could not defeat the team of the University of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Thanh Hoa, which played more resiliently and reasonably.

The team of Ho Chi Minh City University of Physical Education and Sports has many achievements in student playgrounds, but also had to stop before the team of Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry in a match where coach Nguyen Thai Vinh admitted that the opponent played better. Although, Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry has never won a ticket to the final round of student playgrounds before.

Strong teams like Hue University and Da Nang University of Physical Education and Sports also had to struggle in the qualifying round to get tickets to the final round.

TNSV THACO cup is no longer a playground for any team. Every opponent in the final round this year has fallen, even... very painfully. Surprises are always hidden and become a characteristic beauty of student football. Here, every team can dream of causing surprises.

shock

The draw also created balanced groups. In group A, host Ton Duc Thang University had to face Hue University, Tra Vinh University and Quy Nhon University.

While the former champion Hue University with its team of combative players is determined to return after last season's failure, Tra Vinh University also reached the quarterfinals last season, possessing an attacking style of play rich in variation. Quy Nhon University is an interesting unknown, capable of hindering the home team.

Despite reaching the semi-finals for two consecutive years, the Ton Duc Thang University team cannot be complacent. Many opponents have "memorized" the host's playing space, and are brave enough to overcome the pressure of thousands of spectators.

In Group B, two veterans, Van Hien University and Da Nang University of Physical Education and Sports, will compete fiercely with two newcomers, Thanh Hoa University of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology. This is the most unpredictable group, because the teams are equally strong.

Thanh Hoa University of Culture, Sports and Tourism team made runner-up Thuy Loi University "feel regret" in the group stage

The most noteworthy team in this group is Van Hien University, which reached the quarterfinals last season, and some players who have played in the national second-tier tournament to gain experience. Meanwhile, Thanh Hoa University of Culture, Sports and Tourism has studied the opponent's playing style to predict their moves, as well as having a thorough preparation plan as revealed by Coach Nguyen Cong Thanh.

In Group C, the champion candidate, Hanoi University of Physical Education and Sports, will face three representatives from the South, including Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Dong Nai University of Technology.

This is a tough test for the northern team, because although Hanoi University of Physical Education and Sports is very strong with its familiar controlling and passing style of play, the opponents in the same group are all teams with good defense, good counter-attacks and tactical discipline.

Every team that reaches the finals has the ambition to win the championship. Let's wait and see which team is strong enough to go all the way.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/cang-thang-ngay-tu-vong-bang-de-co-cu-soc-xay-ra-185250227193313977.htm