Looking back at the final stage of V-League 2023

Up to this point, both groups have gone through 5 and 4 rounds and it seems that things are gradually revealing the desired and unwanted owners.

In Group A, after the 2-1 victory over Hanoi FC at Hang Day Stadium to surpass the defending champion, Hanoi Police with 34 points and the last 2 rounds playing at home against Viettel and Dong A Thanh Hoa, are considered the strongest candidates for the 2023 V-League championship. Of course, Hanoi FC and Viettel, both with 32 points, will not easily "give up" when the opportunity is still intact in the next 2 matches. If Hanoi Police get a good result in the match against Viettel, the chance of winning the championship will become even clearer, because the next match against Dong A Thanh Hoa will be easier, when the Thanh team has almost run out of motivation after recent draws and losses.

Teams like Hai Phong, Thep Xanh Nam Dinh, Hong Linh Ha Tinh or Binh Dinh seem to have a hard time advancing in the remaining rounds. The race for the top 3 may just be a story between the 3 teams from the capital and Dong A Thanh Hoa. But as mentioned above about the Thanh team, when the head coach Popov declared "from now on, he will not answer media interviews", it shows the captain's resignation before the team's unstable performance, especially towards the end of the season, when the squad is thinner due to injuries, penalty cards and motivation to compete.

In group B, the sweet, unexpected victory was beyond the prediction ofLam River Nghe Anon Hoa Xuan Stadium, SHB Da Nang completely lost the right to decide in the final round, because at the same time, teams in the same situation as Binh Duong or Ho Chi Minh City both got 3 points that are more precious than gold. In the final round, even if SHB Da Nang rose up on the away field of Khanh Hoa, which had run out of motivation, to win 3 points, they still had to hope that the match between Binh Duong and Ho Chi Minh City would not be a draw. Although Mr. Le Huynh Duc said strongly that "it would be foolish to lose to Ho Chi Minh City", is there a basis for SHB Da Nang to believe in those who know where the round ball will roll? So, is the prediction about the First Division next season for SHB Da Nang very realistic and specific?

As the V-League is entering its final rounds, when everything is becoming clear, it is inevitable that there is a story of both motivation in the championship race that is commendable and worth watching, and also a story of giving up in more than one team in the latter group. The race of the 3 capital teams with good foreign players and domestic players who are national players will promise to be more exciting in the future.

In group B, even Hoang Anh Gia Lai has long known that "playing for fun", using many young players, although they won all 3 rounds in phase 2 to stay in the league early, there is still a story of "losing again". Ho Chi Minh City is extremely thirsty for points, not only this season but also last season was "identified"? The teams with enough points to stay in the league such as Hoang Anh Gia Lai, Song Lam Nghe An or Khanh Hoa all had "suspicious" losses even though there was no evidence to conclude? That is why it is very difficult to identify the relegated team, even though in the penultimate round, the home loss caused SHB Da Nang to submit themselves to an undesirable position and it is difficult to blame anyone but their own poor efforts?

What is worth mentioning now is that in the stands, there are sparse matches, crowded matches, noisy and angry places, places full of enthusiasm, places fined for letting spectators light flares, places where spectators react to the referee with bottles... Fans of Hanoi Police and Hanoi FC in the recent match recreated the once glorious atmosphere of the capital's top football and are starting a new cycle of success from the field to the stands. Meanwhile, Thanh Nam spectators were extremely angry after the home team's unusual defeat at home, thinking they would "get angry" and leave, but they still "love" to follow Mr. Vu Hong Viet and his team to cheer on Lach Tray Stadium! Remember, Song Lam Nghe An fans also "got angry and then loved" their beloved team more than once?

When teams and players do not set big and small goals and ambitions to strive for, the ups and downs of the football field will continue and amateurism will still have room to exist and flourish. Therefore, Vietnamese football still has a lot to do to become truly professional, attract real audiences, and bring real benefits from this king sport, which is the most attractive and fascinating in the world./.