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Thanh Hoa University of Culture, Sports and Tourism: Strong and... stubborn

The Water Resources University team had to stop for the first time in history in the qualifying round of the Vietnam Youth Student Football Tournament, when coach Vu Van Trung and his team fell in the play-off round. The mysterious team that defeated the reigning Water Resources runner-up was the Thanh Hoa University of Culture, Sports and Tourism. In their first time participating in the tournament, the representative from the Central region made a surprise.

With a tight and scientific defense strategy, the Thanh Hoa University of Culture, Sports and Tourism team neutralized the extremely strong attack of the University of Water Resources in the play-off match. Tran Duc Hoan, Nguyen Hoang Danh, Tran Bao Trung, Bui Xuan Truong... are all top attacking players of the University of Water Resources in the student football field, but they were all helpless against the disciplined play of the rookies of the tournament.

Trường ĐH VH-TT-DL Thanh Hóa: Đội bóng loại đương kim á quân thú vị cỡ nào?- Ảnh 1. — Thanh Hoa University of Culture, Sports and Tourism team won a ticket to the final round of the THACO Cup

Then in the penalty shootout, despite missing both of the first two shots, the Thanh Hoa University of Culture, Sports and Tourism team still made a spectacular comeback to win 3-2 overall, thus winning a ticket to the final round of the TNSV THACO Cup 2025. That detail alone speaks volumes about the mettle of Coach Nguyen Cong Thanh's students. Playing on Thuy Loi Stadium, facing pressure from hundreds of opposing fans and falling behind in the penalty shootout. But it was not a problem, as the Thanh Hoa University of Culture, Sports and Tourism team still knew how to overcome.

Before the match went to the penalty shootout, the Thanh Hoa University of Culture, Sports and Tourism team drew 0-0 with the University of Water Resources, becoming the first team to keep a clean sheet against the University of Water Resources in a qualifying match. Or counting both the qualifying round and the final round, the number of teams that have withstood the pressure of the University of Water Resources can be counted on the fingers of one hand, most of them are experienced teams. However, in their first time participating in the tournament, the representative of Thanh Hoa has done it.

Multifaceted team

The success of the Thanh Hoa School of Culture, Sports and Tourism did not come from luck, but was nurtured by a thorough preparation process in both physical strength and playing style. The Thanh team defeated the Hanoi University of Business and Technology (4-1), drew with the Hanoi University of Industry (1-1), before achieving victory by defeating the host University of Water Resources in the play-off series. That is, even though they only won 1 match in the official time, the Thanh Hoa School of Culture, Sports and Tourism still had a ticket to continue.

Not possessing a star-studded attack like runner-up Thuy Loi University, nor playing beautiful "tiki-taka" passing like Hanoi University of Physical Education and Sports, Thanh Hoa University of Culture, Sports and Tourism has its own unique playing style. The Central representative has an improvisational and natural style that makes it difficult for opponents to predict, and at the same time knows how to rely on opponents to choose the right approach.

Trường ĐH VH-TT-DL Thanh Hóa: Đội bóng loại đương kim á quân thú vị cỡ nào?- Ảnh 2. — Varied playing style brings Thanh Hoa team to the final round

For example, when facing the weaker Hanoi University of Business and Technology, Thanh Hoa University of Culture, Sports and Tourism played a diverse and skillful attack, with quick one-touch passes from players who had more or less spent time training at professional training centers. However, when facing the University of Water Resources, the new recruit of the TNSV THACO Cup wore a completely different mask: solid defense, pragmatism, minimizing handling and prioritizing stability.

From a place of improvisational and beautiful kicking, the Thanh Hoa School of Culture, Sports and Tourism transformed into a solid and pragmatic team. Perhaps the certainty of coach Nguyen Cong Thanh and his team also surprised their opponent, the University of Water Resources, which is very experienced. The style of playing "dancing to any music", knowing how to be flexible and hard at any time, and being able to play in many different ways will turn the Thanh Hoa School of Culture, Sports and Tourism into a "kaleidoscope", very difficult to predict.

The Thanh Hoa School of Culture, Sports and Tourism has won a ticket to the final round, but up to now, the strength of coach Nguyen Cong Thanh and his team has not yet been fully demonstrated. There are still potential explosive points hidden in young players such as Aklat (2005), Ngan Hoang Phuc (2005), Ha Van Minh (2004), Ngo Tung Duong (2005) or Nguyen Doan Thien Dung (2006). The Thanh team will continue to improve.

The absence of both the defending champion and the defending runner-up in the final round of the TNSV THACO Cup 2025 will be regretful. However, believe that the new faces will be worth watching, with surprises waiting to "flow" on the football field of Ton Duc Thang University in March.