Determine 8 teams to enter the play-off round in Ho Chi Minh City area

New wind in Ho Chi Minh City area

In yesterday's competition day (January 11), the team of Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (VNU-HCM) showed great ambition in their second participation in the TNSV tournament. Coach Nguyen Van Tuan's students won a convincing 3-0 victory over the team of Ho Chi Minh City University of Education, thereby winning the top spot in group 6 with an absolute score of 9 points. Not only did they win a ticket to the play-off round, with what they showed, the team of Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology is expected to go far in this year's season.

Xác định 8 đội vào vòng play-off khu vực TP.HCM- Ảnh 1. — The new team of Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics ( *left* ) won a ticket to the play-off round for the second-place team with the best results.

In group 7, the experienced team Ho Chi Minh City University of Technical Education shared points with Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics, completing the immediate goal of winning a ticket to the play-off round. The important draw against Ho Chi Minh City University of Technical Education in the last round also helped the rookie team Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics get 7 points, winning the only spot for the second-placed team with the best performance. Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics participated in the TNSV tournament for the first time but showed careful preparation in terms of force, promising to be able to create surprises in the play-off round. The ticket of Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics ended the hopes of other very strong second-placed teams such as Van Lang University (6 points), Ho Chi Minh City University of Agriculture and Forestry (6 points), Ho Chi Minh City University of Transport (6 points), Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics and Finance (6 points). The fierce competition right from the group stage in Ho Chi Minh City made the above strong teams stop just by being careless or unlucky.

Previously, the teams that won tickets to the play-off round in Ho Chi Minh City were Ho Chi Minh City University of Physical Education and Sports (Group 1), Van Hien University (Group 2), Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry (Group 3), Saigon University of Technology (Group 4), Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (Group 5). These are all teams with balanced strength, effective performance, and identity, promising to compete fiercely in the play-off round. On January 13, a technical meeting and draw for the matches of the play-off round in Ho Chi Minh City will take place (taking place on January 14 and 15). The 4 winning teams in the play-off will win tickets to the final round.

Hot 3 "final" matches

The focus of today's competition (January 12) is on the Central Coast region (Military Zone 5 Stadium, Da Nang) and the Southeast region (Bau Thanh Stadium, Ba Ria-Vung Tau) when all 3 matches decide the ticket to the final round. In the Central Coast region, former champion Hue University faced Duy Tan University in the first play-off match. With a deep squad and rich experience in the TNSV tournament, Hue University is considered to be the better team. However, Duy Tan University is also formidable, ready to surprise the opponent. In the remaining play-off match, the Danang University of Physical Education and Sports team faces a big challenge from FPT Polytechnic College. Under the guidance of former HAGL player Tran Huu Dong Trieu and strong investment, the FPT Polytechnic College team played impressively with a victory over the University of Technical Education (University of Da Nang), sharing points with the 2023 TNSV champion Hue University. "I and the entire FPT Polytechnic College team hope to participate in the final round of the THACO Cup 2025 TNSV tournament in Ho Chi Minh City. Therefore, we will compete with the highest determination in the play-off match against the Da Nang University of Sports and Physical Education team," said coach Dong Trieu. Equally determined, coach Tran Trung Kien of the Da Nang University of Sports and Physical Education team hopes that his students will maintain their mentality to qualify for the final round for the second time.

Meanwhile, in the Southeast region, the competition is equally fierce as only the best team will have a ticket to the final round. Defeating strong opponents, Lac Hong University and Dong Nai University of Technology "dated" in the final. Possessing a team of quality players and an even squad, Dong Nai University of Technology is highly appreciated. Meanwhile, Lac Hong University wants to promote its solid defense as it did in the previous match against Ba Ria-Vung Tau University. This team is also ready in case it has to decide the winner or loser with its opponent on penalties.

Also today, the THACO Cup 2025 TNSV tournament will feature exciting and dramatic matches in the South Central - Central Highlands and Southwest regions.