Sorry for Ton Duc Thang University team
When Chu Tuan Kiet stepped up to take the fifth penalty kick in the quarter-final match between Ton Duc Thang University and Da Nang University of Sports and Physical Education, the home fans were already thinking about the semi-finals. If the player born in 2006 had scored successfully, Ton Duc Thang University would have been in the top four of the Vietnamese Youth Student Football Tournament (TNSV THACO Cup) for the third consecutive year.
However, Ton Duc Thang University's number 22 missed his shot. He ran well, aimed carefully at the high corner, but at the decisive touch point, the suffocating pressure caused the home player to shoot over the crossbar. The Danang University of Sports woke up after this moment, before coming back in the penalty shootout to win 5-4, securing a ticket to the semi-finals.
Ton Duc Thang University team (red shirt) lost regrettably on penalties.
Every good movie needs a satisfying ending. And the penalty shootout where the two teams Ton Duc Thang University and Da Nang University of Sports took turns leading and then losing, deserved to be the "curtain-closing" act for the most dramatic and impressive chase since the beginning of the tournament.
Before the quarter-finals, few people thought that Ton Duc Thang University could play on equal terms with their opponents from the Central region. Coach Nguyen Dinh Long and his team finished second in Group A, with many unconvincing matches such as a 0-0 draw with Tra Vinh University and a 1-1 draw with Quy Nhon University. With a new force in all three lines, when the pillars of last season had graduated, the host Ton Duc Thang University was very slow to get into the rhythm, even being judged as lacking personality and "weirdness", while the opponents were more stubborn, knowing how to take advantage of every advantage to win.
While Ton Duc Thang University's team is innocent and somewhat naive, Da Nang University of Physical Education and Sports is a "warhorse" with a very strong and experienced force. The Central representative scored 6 goals in the group stage (the most in the tournament), played beautiful and skillful attacks. Coach Nguyen Dinh Long himself admitted that the opponent from Da Nang is very strong, with a superior physical foundation and mindset. "As for us, we will play as much as we have, we will play our best, enjoy every moment of participating in the tournament", Mr. Long emphasized.
However, as many coaches have commented, it is the unpredictability that makes student football attractive. The Ton Duc Thang University team seemed to have... nothing but spirit, having twice equalized against strong opponents, ready to play fair and show resilience when cornered. The situation where Phan Hoai Nam eliminated the goalkeeper of the Da Nang University of Sports, a professional who had trained with the U.19 team, to score a goal showed confidence and a very student-like playing spirit. They may be weaker, but once on the field, they are the same, playing fair and not giving up.
Emotional chase
However, the team of Da Nang University of Sports "woke up" at the right time to show the spirit and dignity of a championship candidate. The equalizer 3-3 in the last minute of the Central representative showed its strangeness, with a timely tackle in a split second to force the home goalkeeper to commit a foul, leading to a penalty. The team of Da Nang University of Sports made a mistake, but the important thing is to know how to fix it to keep themselves in the game.
Overcoming pain
Before the player from Da Nang University of Sports stepped up to take the decisive kick, Tuan Kiet cried. Number 22 of Ton Duc Thang University understood that his missed shot in the fifth round had taken away the home team's chance. Many players from Ton Duc Thang University also sat... in a daze after the match.
The feeling of regret will still haunt the host Ton Duc Thang University, as Mr. Nguyen Dinh Long's students played well and deserved to enter the semi-finals.
However, that's football. Those who miss penalties are actually the bravest. Because daring to step up and take 11m kicks (especially the decisive fifth kick) is already brave. Not every player dares to take the task. Kicking in is glorious, but missing is normal, because under the pressure that many fans sitting watching are... trembling, you have to understand how terrible the pressure the players on the field have endured.
Even the strongest teams in Vietnamese student football such as the University of Water Resources and the University of Physical Education and Sports in Ho Chi Minh City stopped in the qualifying round because they missed a penalty. Football is so cruel, so it is impossible to say anything good.
However, because of sadness, joy is more precious. Because of tears, future smiles are more valuable. Someone once said that failure always contains lessons for growth. Opening that "gift" is not a simple matter, but requires courage and perseverance.
Wipe your tears, stand up and keep fighting. Because tomorrow starts today!
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/hay-danh-bai-noi-buon-dung-day-va-tiep-tuc-chien-dau-18525031120575307.htm
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