The eye-catching finale in Group B

Emotional derby

The decisive nature of the ticket to the quarter-finals of the TNSV THACO Cup 2025 made the match between two teams from the same area of Ho Chi Minh City, Van Hien University and Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (VNU-HCM), become heated. The University of Technology team was considered the underdog but played differently thanks to the return of captain midfielder Hoang Quoc Phong. Coach Nguyen Van Tuan's students entered the match with great determination and a comfortable mentality, so they created a tit-for-tat game with their opponents. Meanwhile, some positions on the Van Hien University team were mentally tense, so they did not play as expected by the coaching staff.

Màn kết mãn nhãn ở bảng B- Ảnh 1. — The team of University of Technology (VNU-HCM - *middle* ) played very hard but still stopped in the group stage.

The situation in Group B and other groups meant that if the two teams drew, they would both be eliminated from the tournament, so they proactively attacked in the second half. The players of Van Hien University and Bach Khoa University continuously created scoring opportunities but were unable to capitalize on them. In the 78th minute, Vo Tran Hoang Phuc made Ton Duc Thang University's stadium explode when he headed the ball dangerously and accurately into the net of goalkeeper Tran Quoc Dat, helping Van Hien University take a 1-0 lead. This was also the golden goal that decided the outcome of the match, helping Van Hien University win a ticket to the quarterfinals with 4 points (one of the two third-place teams with good results).

Leaving the tournament after 3 consecutive losses, the players of the University of Technology also showed a spirit of effort. Coach Tuan "den"'s students fought with all their might for the flag and the shirt but were unlucky and still have a lot to do to come back stronger in the new season. Meanwhile, Coach Hoang Hai Duong of the Van Hien University team sent his thanks to the large number of fans of his school who came to the stadium to give the team more spiritual strength. "This year, the Van Hien University team has more than 10 players who are first-year students. They are still bewildered in their first time stepping out into the big sea at the TNSV THACO Cup Finals. The cheers and encouragement of the fans are the motivation for them to try. After overcoming the difficult group stage, we aim to overcome our opponents in the quarter-finals to reach the semi-finals," Coach Hoang Hai Duong shared.

In the remaining match of Group B, Thanh Hoa University of Culture, Sports and Tourism witnessed an unbelievable comeback to win 1 point against Da Nang University of Sports and Physical Education. Although the Song Han team was leading 3-0, Thanh Hoa University of Culture, Sports and Tourism players equalized 3-3. With this result, Da Nang University of Sports and Physical Education successfully defended the top spot in the group, while Thanh Hoa University of Culture, Sports and Physical Education ranked second.

Determine 7/8 teams to enter the quarterfinals

As of the end of yesterday's competition, 7/8 teams have won tickets to the quarterfinals, including Quy Nhon University (7 points, first in Group A), Ton Duc Thang University (5 points, second in Group A), Da Nang University of Physical Education and Sports (7 points, first in Group B), Thanh Hoa University of Culture, Sports and Tourism (5 points, second in Group B), Van Hien University (4 points, third in Group B), Hanoi University of Physical Education and Sports (4 points, Group C), Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (4 points, Group C). The remaining ticket will be determined today, March 9, after the final match of Group C between Hanoi University of Physical Education and Sports and Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry (3:30 p.m.), Dong Nai University of Technology and Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (5:45 p.m.).

If they draw or win against the Hanoi University of Physical Education and Sports, the Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry will advance to the next round. If they lose, the Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry will be ranked third in Group C, and then this team will have the same 3 points as the Hue University team (third in Group A), so they will compare the additional goal difference to choose the team that will advance to the quarter-finals.

Currently, Hue University has a goal difference of -5 while Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry has a goal difference of 0, so the advantage belongs to the team in Ho Chi Minh City. The reason why Hue University only has 3 points is because the VFF decided to award a 0-3 loss in the match against Quy Nhon University and Ton Duc Thang University for violating the tournament regulations.