Memories of the Nghe An Newspaper Cup from the Song Lam Nghe An striker.

The decisive goal

In the crucial match at Go Dau Stadium, when SLNA was under immense pressure after a series of unsuccessful games, Ngo Van Luong once again knew how to shine at the right moment.

In the 51st minute of the match, from a quick counter-attack on the right wing, Michael Olaha delivered a perfectly placed cross. Inside the box, Ngo Van Luong made a clever run and unleashed a powerful header, sending the ball into the far corner of the net, leaving the opposing goalkeeper helpless.

That moment fully showcased Ngo Van Luong's most outstanding qualities. A player who doesn't possess an ideal physique, but always knows how to make a difference with his technique, cunning, and ability to handle the ball in tight spaces.

After four seasons competing in the V.League, the midfielder from Nam Dan is having what is considered his most successful season with SLNA. In the 2025/26 season, Ngo Van Luong played 24 matches, totaling 1,496 minutes of playing time, and scored 3 goals. More importantly, most of those goals came at crucial moments for the Nghe An team.

Not only contributing to the team's goalscoring, Van Luong has also become a crucial link in coach Van Sy Son's tactical system. Playing primarily on the left wing, the 2001-born player stands out thanks to his dribbling ability, skillful ball handling, and ability to create breakthroughs with his speedy runs.

Despite being only 1.72m tall, Van Luong always knows how to utilize his agility and technique to gain an advantage over his opponents. His quick footwork, dribbling, and acceleration have become familiar sights of this player in the SLNA jersey.

What's even more valuable is Van Luong's dedication. Despite suffering an injury this season, he made a strong comeback and maintained consistent form during the team's most challenging period.

“This is my last season as a young player, so I always want to contribute as much as possible to SLNA. My contract is also about to expire, so I have a lot of emotions and thoughts about the future. Therefore, scoring an important goal that helped the team secure early survival is something that makes me very happy and proud. For me, contributing to my hometown team is always the most special thing,” – Ngo Van Luong shared.

Perhaps that's why fans in Nghe An always have a special affection for the midfielder from Nam Dan. With Van Luong's contract with SLNA nearing its end, many fans still hope he will stay and continue to play for his hometown team.

Beautiful memories of the Nghe An Newspaper Cup

Few people know that Ngo Van Luong's journey into professional football began when he accompanied his older brother to play in the Nghe An Newspaper Cup Youth and Children's Football Tournament.

Back then, the boy from Nam Dan never imagined he would become a professional football player. Van Luong simply followed his older brother to the district's football field to watch and play with the others. But that very field marked the biggest turning point in his life.

Recalling his early days participating in the Nghe An Newspaper Cup, Ngo Van Luong said: "Back then, I followed my older brother to play for the district and the coaches let me try playing. At first, I just watched from the sidelines, but after seeing that I could play well, the coaches encouraged me to join the game."

From a boy who "played for fun," Van Luong quickly impressed with his agility, skill, and natural ball-handling ability. His performances at the Nghe An Newspaper Cup in 2011 caught the eye of SLNA scouts.

What's remarkable is that at that time, Van Luong's Nam Dan team wasn't among the teams that advanced far in the tournament. However, the talent of the boy born in 2001 was still discovered by scouts. Van Luong recalled: "From the time I played for the district team, the SLNA coaches had already noticed me. After the tournament, I was called for a tryout."

It can be said that the Nghe An Newspaper Cup Youth and Children's Football Tournament was the first gateway that led Ngo Van Luong to professional football. Without that platform, perhaps Nghe An football would not have discovered such a technically gifted and passionate player as he is today.

For Van Luong, the Nghe An Newspaper Cup holds special childhood memories. It was the first time the boy from Nam Dan traveled far with the team, experienced group activities, and felt the atmosphere of a real tournament.

"Playing in the Newspaper Cup was so much fun. After the match, we got to hang out and eat ice cream with the coach and my teammates. For me, those are very memorable memories," Văn Lương shared.

Now, Ngo Van Luong has become a key player for the Nghe An team in the V.League. And it's remarkable that this player, who rose through the ranks of the Nghe An Newspaper Cup, scored the crucial goal that helped SLNA secure their place in the league early this season.

Duc Anh