Hot final between 'fire' and 'water'

2 teams in the final: Good offense meets good defense

The final match of the 3rd Vietnam Youth Student Football Tournament - 2025 THACO Cup (TNSV THACO Cup 2025) was a fierce battle between Thanh Hoa University of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Da Nang University of Physical Education and Sports.

This is a surprising result, because while Thanh Hoa University of Culture, Sports and Tourism is a rookie, Da Nang University of Physical Education and Sports was eliminated in the group stage last season.

To reach the final, both teams had to go through a difficult journey right from the qualifying round. Thanh Hoa University of Culture, Sports and Tourism had to face the runner-up, Thuy Loi University, on away field in the play-off round.

- Ảnh 1. — Thanh Hoa University of Culture, Sports and Tourism kept a clean sheet in 4 out of 5 matches played in this year's tournament.

In the match that most people highly appreciated Thuy Loi University, the team that has been runner-up for two consecutive years in the Vietnamese Youth Student Football Tournament, coach Nguyen Cong Thanh and his team turned the impossible into possible.

After 80 minutes of resilient defense in exchange for a 0-0 draw, the Thanh boys won the penalty shootout with great courage to get a ticket to the final round.

The match against the University of Water Resources also showed the steadfast spirit of the Thanh Hoa University of Culture, Sports and Tourism: tight defense, moderate control of the match and readiness to punish the opponent's mistakes. The Thanh team drew with Van Hien University (0-0), won against the University of Science and Technology (VNU-HCM) (2-0), then closed the match against the University of Physical Education and Sports of Da Nang in the final round of the group stage with a rain of goals (3-3).

In the knockout round, the scientific and pragmatic playing style of Thanh Hoa University of Culture, Sports and Tourism was effective, when Le Van Thuc and his teammates defeated Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology with a shining moment, then defeated Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry in a penalty shootout.

With 4 clean sheets out of 5 matches played, Thanh Hoa University of Culture, Sports and Tourism has the most disciplined and solid defense in the tournament.

On the other hand, Da Nang University of Physical Education and Sports has a beautiful and dedicated attacking style of play. The Central representative leads Group B with 7 points and 7 goals, then brings a dramatic score chase with a score of 3-3 with Ton Duc Thang University in the quarterfinals.

- Ảnh 2. — Thanh Hoa University of Culture, Sports and Tourism overcomes many strong opponents

However, Da Nang Sports University does not only know how to play offensively. When needed, Nguyen Van Tuan and his teammates can still play tightly. The 0-0 draw, then the victory in the thrilling penalty shootout against Hanoi Sports Pedagogical University in the semi-finals showed that Da Nang Sports University is like a "kaleidoscope", able to play in many different ways depending on the opponent.

The finale is tense.

The quality of the matches in the final round of the 3rd Vietnam Youth Student Football Tournament - 2025 THACO Cup has been raised with U.19 players (the regulations allow teams to register up to 3 U.19 players, using up to 2 players at the same time on the field).

With the professionalism and precision of the teams from preparation to competition, the matches are getting tighter and tighter. For example, in the semi-finals, no goals were scored, leading to the teams having to take penalty kicks to determine the winner.

- Ảnh 3. — Danang University of Physical Education and Sports affirms its strength

However, the number of goals has decreased, but the quality of football has improved. The speed of the game has increased, the ball is constantly circulating, and many beautiful moments have appeared.

In the final, Thanh Hoa University of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Da Nang University of Physical Education and Sports will probably play calculatingly and cautiously, like the way Ho Chi Minh City University of Physical Education and Sports and Thuy Loi University played in last year's tournament (0-0 draw in regular time). In a tense match between skilled players, one goal is enough to create a turning point.

The road to the top is not paved with roses. The two teams are only one final hurdle away from the throne and a ticket to the 2025 International Student Youth Tournament - THACO Cup.