Portrait of Nghe An Newspaper Cup champions

Quy Hop Children's Miracle
Although not highly rated before the start of the season, Quy Hop FC made everyone admire them. In the first match, Quy Hop FC faced Con Cuong FC and won a resounding 4-0 victory over an opponent considered to be of equal strength. Continuing the excitement, in the second match against Tuong Duong FC, Quy Hop still showed their superior strength when they crushed their opponent with a score of 7-0. In the final match, Quy Hop FC faced Nam Dan FC - the 2014 Champion. Despite their best efforts, Quy Hop FC still had to share points with a very strong opponent. However, 1 point was enough for Quy Hop FC to maintain the top position in Group B and confidently advance to the quarter-finals. For many people, Quy Hop FC's passage through the group stage was an unimaginable result.

Quy Hop ND players were happy to win the tournament for the first time. Photo: Ho Phuong

However, the magical journey of NĐ Quỳ Hợp did not stop there. Facing NĐ Đô Lương in the quarter-finals, the fans from Phú Quỳ were extremely worried when their opponent had won all 3 matches in the group stage and won the first place in group C. However, on the field, NĐ Quỳ Hợp players showed their determination to surpass Cong Phuong's juniors when they won a thrilling 2-1 victory to enter the semi-finals.

The opponent in the semi-final match of the Phu Quy team was the reigning champion of the tournament - ND Yen Thanh. However, the situation on the field was completely opposite when the team from the mountain town attacked overwhelmingly and won a resounding 3-0 victory.

Quy Hop Children's Team players hold high the Championship Cup. Photo: Thanh Cuong

The final obstacle in the journey to the championship was ND Tan Ky - the team that had scored 30 goals in the previous matches. The situation on the field in the final match was extremely tense. The surprise came right in the 3rd minute, player number 6 Vo Quang Bao of ND Quy Hop made the stadium explode when he had a valid ball steal and a classy shot to defeat the goalkeeper of Tan Ky, opening the score of the match.

Head of the Organizing Committee Pham Thi Hong Toan awarded the Gold Medal to Quy Hop Children's Team. Photo: Duc Anh

However, under great pressure from Tan Ky, ND Quy Hop conceded a goal in the 30th minute. The 1-1 draw also ended the official match time of the final, forcing the two teams to decide the champion on penalties. And ND Quy Hop with a more steadfast spirit won.

The match ended, NĐ Quỳ Hợp not only passed the group stage for the first time but also won the highest position of the tournament after 23 long years. Unable to hide his emotions, Quy Hợp coach, Mr. Cao Thanh Xuan choked up: “We entered the tournament with doubts about the quality, but I told my students not to be sad but to use that as motivation to fight, to put aside the label of “paving the way” for many years and enter the match like real warriors. The students understood that and were all very determined in the matches. In this final match, NĐ Tân Kỳ was considered too strong, so the Quy Hợp players were somewhat mentally stressed. However, in the end, they overcame and fought until the last moment, bringing glory to their homeland”.

The ball fight between Quy Hop Children's Team (blue shirt) and Yen Thanh Children's Team. Photo: Ho Phuong

Tan Ky Youth "Tank"

Entering the Youth - Children's Football Tournament of Nghe An Newspaper Cup, Tan Ky Youth Team is considered a "newbie", returning to the tournament after many years. However, no one dares to underestimate or doubt the strength of this team because every year Tan Ky Youth Team is a strong candidate for the championship. And this year Tan Ky Youth Team is the inheritance, the development of the previous children's teams...

The joy of TN Tan Ky players when they were named champions of the tournament. Photo: Archive

The draw results put TN Tan Ky in group B - the group considered "death" with the presence of Vinh City TN and Do Luong TN - two teams with the most traditional football in the tournament. In the matches in the group stage, TN Tan Ky showed their good qualities and skills and the team also learned many valuable lessons.

In the first match of the group stage, TN Tan Ky met TN Do Luong. TN Tan Ky showed its strength and was a strong candidate for the championship when it continuously put pressure on its opponent. TN Tan Ky players are tall, very agile and skillful, always attacking like a "war chariot" that moves without stopping. In this match, TN Tan Ky scored 3 goals in a row and did not give the opponent any significant opportunities.

The situation where TN Tan Ky opened the score in the match against TN Nghia Dan. Photo: Duc Anh

In the second match of the group stage, TN Tan Ky competed for the top spot in the group with TN TP. Vinh. Fully aware of the superior strength of their opponents, TN TP. Vinh proactively played defensively and counterattacked. TN TP. Vinh players continuously followed and disrupted the opponent's attacking rhythm. Despite many ineffective attacks, TN Tan Ky "paid the price" with an "unstoppable" free kick from their opponents.

The defeat left TN Tan Ky in second place in Group B and the team had to face the defending champion TN Yen Thanh - the team that won first place in Group A in the quarter-finals. The match between the two teams was considered the "early final" of the season. After losing to TN Vinh City in the group stage, TN Tan Ky has now learned many valuable lessons. The team not only played beautifully but also much more wisely. TN Tan Ky scored the opening goal in the 7th minute of the match and maintained this score until the end of the match, turning the defending champion into a former champion.

The support from fans outside the stadium always encourages the players on the field at this tournament. Photo: Quang An

In the semi-final match against the “Dark Horse of the Season” TN Thanh Chuong, TN Tan Ky was soon breached by their opponent. However, with their strength and extensive battle experience, TN Tan Ky quickly found a way to “unlock” TN Thanh Chuong’s defense and equalized the score a few minutes later. Facing an opponent playing with 200% of their ability and form, TN Tan Ky had to accept a draw in the 2 regular halves. In the penalty shootout, TN Tan Ky was the more courageous team when they successfully executed all 3 kicks while their opponent missed all of them.

Quynh Luu fans celebrate the match's winning goal. Photo: Duc Anh

In the Final, TN Tan Ky met TN Quynh Luu. Being a team that has continuously reached the final of the Bao Cup in the last 4 seasons, TN Quynh Luu is a big team, familiar with big matches. However, TN Tan Ky quickly overwhelmed right after the opening whistle, forcing TN Quynh Luu into a difficult defense. The continuous attacks broke through TN Quynh Luu's multi-layered defense. In turn, Nguyen Van Minh, Le Huy Thanh, and Tran Dinh Hiep scored 4 goals for the home team. In the second half, TN Tan Ky proactively slowed down the pace of the match, playing solidly. TN Quynh Luu could only score 1 goal at the end of the match. Winning convincingly with a score of 4 - 1, TN Tan Ky was crowned Champion of the tournament.