For the second consecutive time, the Quynh Luu youth team has won the Nghe An Newspaper Cup Youth Football Tournament.
The final match of the 26th Nghe An Newspaper Cup Youth and Children's Football Tournament - 2024 was a highly anticipated clash between the Vinh City Youth team and the Quynh Luu Youth team.
Here is the official lineup for both teams:
| Young people from Vinh City (in red shirts) | Quynh Luu teenagers (dark blue) |
| Pham Hoang Gia Bao (1 - Goalkeeper) Phan Tan Phat (3) Phan Tran Gia Hung (6) Nguyen Van Trong (8) Pham Ngoc Quan (9) Le Trung Phong (11) Pham Manh Cuong (12) Coach: Tran Anh Duc | Ho Tien Sap (1 - Goalkeeper) Tran Hoang Anh (3) Trinh Ho Quoc Toan (4) Ho Khac Minh Huy (5) Phan Van Dat Toi (6) Nguyen Chi Cong (10) Dau Huy Hieu (14) Coach: Duong Vu Phong |
Before the final match for the prestigious trophy, both the Vinh City Youth team and the Quynh Luu Youth team had different performances in the semi-finals. While the Vinh City Youth team easily defeated the Thanh Chuong Youth team 4-1, the Quynh Luu Youth team struggled to secure victory against the Quy Hop Youth team in a penalty shootout.
This is also a rematch of the 2023 season's final. Last year, the Quynh Luu Youth team brilliantly defeated the Vinh City Youth team with a score of 3-2. Not forgetting last year's painful defeat, the Vinh City Youth team is determined to settle the score. Meanwhile, the Quynh Luu Youth team is eager to bring the cup back to Quynh Luu for the second consecutive time.
Just before the match, a large number of Quỳnh Lưu fans traveled over 50km to Vinh to support their beloved team. Conversely, Vinh fans had also made thorough preparations, painting the Vinh stadium red with numerous banners and slogans, giving the players added confidence as they entered the decisive match.
Given the nature of a decisive match, both teams played cautiously right after the opening whistle. In the early minutes, opportunities slightly favored the Quynh Luu Youth team, as they created more dangerous chances. Meanwhile, the Vinh City Youth team had to play against the wind, causing many of their passes to be inaccurate.
The match was evenly contested throughout the first half without any goals being scored. Both teams had to settle for a 0-0 draw before halftime.
In the second half, right from the opening minutes, the Vinh City youth team had several dangerous opportunities. However, they were unable to convert them into goals.
After relentless attacking, the efforts of the Vinh City youth team were finally rewarded. In the 42nd minute, from a free kick by a teammate, player number 11, Le Trung Phong, scored with a dangerous header to open the scoring.
After scoring the opening goal, and spurred on by the home crowd, the Vinh City Youth team played with great enthusiasm, constantly pressing their opponents. However, before they could score another goal, they unexpectedly conceded one.
In the 47th minute, following a hesitant and chaotic clearance in front of the Vinh City Youth team's goal, player number 10 Nguyen Chi Cong quickly pounced on the rebound to equalize the score.
With only a few minutes remaining in the match, neither team could score another goal, and they had to accept the risk of a penalty shootout to determine the winner.
Entering the penalty shootout, although goalkeeper Pham Hoang Gia Bao of Vinh City Youth team brilliantly saved the first shot, the Vinh City Youth team ultimately had to watch their opponents lift the trophy after only completing 3 penalties, while Quynh Luu Youth team completed 4.
Winning on penalties, Quynh Luu Youth defeated Vinh City Youth for the second consecutive time to successfully defend their championship title.
