'Happy to win, but sorry for Van Lang University team'

HLV Tạ Hồng Hà (bìa phải) thừa nhận may mắn có chiến thắng đầu tay — Coach Ta Hong Ha (right cover) admits he was lucky to have his first victory.

Unexpected victory of Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry

Group C of the qualifying round of Group E in Ho Chi Minh City of the 3rd Vietnam Youth Student Football Tournament - 2025 THACO Cup faced the prospect of all draws after the first round. After RMIT University drew 2-2 with Gia Dinh University, the next match between Van Lang University and Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry was also a draw without any goals for 80 minutes.

But then the surprise happened, when in a rare attacking situation of Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry in the 80+1 minute, after the opponent's shot, defender Ly Trong Tien accidentally kicked the ball into his own net in an attempt to block it, to the surprise of everyone.

Trận đấu giữa Trường ĐH Văn Lang (xanh) và Trường ĐH Công nghiệp TP.HCM (đỏ) diễn ra quyết liệt — The match between Van Lang University (blue) and Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry (red) was fierce.

Coach Ta Hong Ha shared: "Today is the first match, the team of Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry faces the opponent Van Lang University, who is capable of competing for the top spot, so the match is quite tight.

I'm happy for the win but also feel a bit lucky. It's a bit of a pity for Van Lang University when they played well but lost a goal in extra time."

With this result, the University of Industry temporarily rose to the top of group C of the qualifying round in Ho Chi Minh City, THACO Cup 2025 with 3 points, above RMIT University and Gia Dinh University, each with 1 point.

Open up the dream of going to the play-off

Niềm vui chiến thắng của các cầu thủ Trường ĐH Công nghiệp TP.HCM — The joy of victory of the players of Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry

This is a favorable start for the teachers and students of Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry to reach the dream play-off match if they have good results in the remaining 2 matches, after a disciplined performance in the opening match.

Remember in the TNSV THACO cup 2024, the Industrial University team played well. However, they met a very strong team, Van Hien University, in the first match and lost in the first match, unable to pass the group stage.

But the thrilling 1-0 victory over Van Lang University opened up opportunities. However, coach Ta Hong Ha was still very cautious: "Everyone wants to get 3 points when playing. But Van Lang University is really strong so we have to choose the right playing style.

This result helps to encourage the spirit and create many advantages for the Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry team. But student football always has unpredictable surprises, so we will have to be really focused."