Off the pitch: 'Que Phong is playing only for Hoang Mai!'

Supporters of the Hoang Mai youth team buy drinks to cheer on the Que Phong youth team. Photo: Thanh Phuc.

After a disappointing loss to the Quynh Luu youth team, the Hoang Mai youth team has 4 points and a goal difference of +3, meaning they cannot determine their own fate. Whether they advance or stop depends entirely on the result between the Hung Nguyen youth team and the Que Phong youth team. If the Que Phong youth team wins, the Hoang Mai youth team will advance.

Therefore, even though the match had ended, the teachers and students of the Hoang Mai youth team, along with the entire cheering squad from the coastal town, enthusiastically cheered for the mountain town youth team. And to further boost the morale of the players from Que Son, the parents of the Hoang Mai youth team went to buy water and ice to serve the opposing team.

Surprisingly, with their aggressive and explosive style of play, the Que Phong youth team won 3-2 against the Hung Nguyen youth team, earning 3 points and placing them 3rd in Group B. With this result, the Hoang Mai youth team finished 2nd in Group B, officially securing a place in the semi-finals.

Shaking hands to congratulate the coach of the Hoang Mai youth team, the players from Que Phong jokingly teased: "Que Phong won because of Hoang Mai!"

"Chickens from the same mother"...

A ball contest between the Quỳnh Lưu youth team and the Hoàng Mai youth team. Photo: Đức Anh

Hoang Mai and Quynh Luu are considered "brothers," "from the same mother," "sharing the same roots." However, on the football field, when the stakes of winning and losing reach a climax, both teams are determined to "win against the opponent." Therefore, the matches are extremely intense, with every ball contested and every opportunity seized.

Luck smiled upon the Quỳnh Lưu youth team as they took a comfortable lead. At this point, outside the stadium, the "outsider" supporters (those not siding with either team) shouted into the stands, "That's enough, let's stop at a nice score. We're all brothers, from the same mother, what's the point of competing against each other...?"

But "brothers only know each other when they're at the table," once they're on the field, they're rivals, so they have to fight with all their might; there's no room for compromise.

"We're not weak, we're just not strong enough yet!"

The sadness of defeat for the Hung Nguyen youth team. Photo: Thanh Phuc

After losing to the Que Phong youth team, the Hung Nguyen youth players covered their faces and sobbed uncontrollably. Sadness and disappointment were evident on each face. A parent comforted them: "It's okay, son. We were weaker than them, so we lost. There's no need to be sad. In any competition, there's always a winner and a loser. If they win, we're sad, and if we win, they're sad. That's all..."

Hearing what the parents said, the coach of the Hung Nguyen youth team comforted his students: "We're not weak, we're just not strong enough yet. We lost this round, but we'll try again next time. Next season, we'll play better!"