Meeting U17 Becamex TP. Ho Chi Minh, U17 SLNA aims for 3 points on the opening day of the 2025 National U17 Championship Finals

Prize decide each battle fight one

U17 SLNA entered the qualifying round with stable results, in which, after 10 matches, they won 21 points, ranked second in Group B after PVF-CAND. The young team from Nghe An won 6, drew 3 and lost only 1 match. Those numbers show that this team has a solid foundation, capable of competing fairly in the final round.

Entering the final round, U17 Song Lam Nghe An is in Group B, gathering 4 teams: SLNA, Hanoi, HAGL and Becamex TP. HCM. Overall, the quality of the teams is quite balanced, without any clear superiority. Coach Hai Nam commented: "Having entered the final round, every team has its strengths. Each match is difficult, so we have to focus to solve each match one by one."

With that approach, the coaching staff does not set a far-fetched goal but determines to take each step with certainty. However, to be successful in the quarter-finals, SLNA needs to aim for the top spot in the group. If they achieve this, they will likely avoid top candidates like Viettel or PVF-CAND in the knockout round.

Decision heart win full 3 point

Among the 3 opponents in the same group, Becamex TP.HCM is considered to have an easier time than Hanoi and HAGL. In the qualifying round, this team only won 2/10 matches, drew 8, earned 14 points and ranked 3rd in group D. The modest achievements show that their ability is not really outstanding. This is the opportunity for SLNA to find 3 starting points.

However, the coaching staff is still cautious. Coach Hai Nam said: “We don’t have much information about this opponent, but we cannot be complacent. The whole team is determined to focus fully on winning.”

SLNA's biggest difficulty in the opening match lies in the weather and the squad. Playing in the South during a time when it often rains in the afternoon, the team's passing and small coordination style of play may be affected. In addition, some key players are injured, forcing coach Hai Nam to consider how to arrange the squad.

However, the physical and mental preparation was considered quite good. In the days before the match, SLNA got used to the weather conditions, focused on practicing tactics and increasing flexibility in deployment. The coaching staff expected the young players to adapt quickly to maximize the playing style that had been built from the qualifying round.

For youth football, an opening win is of great significance, not only in terms of points but also in terms of spirit. If SLNA can win 3 points against Becamex TP.HCM, they will have an advantage in the race for a quarter-final ticket, and at the same time, create psychological momentum to face 2 more difficult opponents, Hanoi and HAGL.

On the contrary, if they lose points, the journey ahead will become complicated, because the gap in strength between the teams in Group B is not too far. This makes the opening match an important test of the real strength of the Nghe An team.

Against a not-so-superior opponent, U17 SLNA's goal of 3 points is completely feasible. The remaining problem lies in the way they enter the game, their concentration and their ability to take advantage of opportunities. A victory in the opening match will help the Nghe team get closer to their goal of passing the group stage, and at the same time, affirm their position in the race for the throne.

The match against Becamex TP.HCM is therefore pivotal. With the preparation, U17 SLNA is expected to complete the task and win all 3 points on the opening day.