Million dollar play-off match at Vinh Stadium

In April 2018, with a core of young players, Pho Hien Football Club (Hung Yen province) was established to compete in the Second Division. The club set a goal of being promoted to the First Division in the first season and to play in the V-League in the second season.

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To prepare the team to participate in the 2018 National Second Division, the club has successfully negotiated to borrow more young players from PVF, Hanoi, Song Lam Nghe An, Viettel and Dak Lak clubs.

"Dare to play" - the competitive spirit of the young players of Pho Hien to reach the runner-up position of V.League 2019, winning a place in the V.League Play-Off 2019. Photo: PHFC.

In the second season, Pho Hien Club continued to surprise experts when it finished as the runner-up of the 2019 First Division. Coach Hua Hien Vinh currently has 26 players with an average age of 19.5. Pho Hien's attack has the 2019 First Division top scorer Xuan Nam with 14 goals, even 2 goals more than Minh Vuong, the 2019 V.League domestic top scorer, although the First Division only has 12 teams.

The Hung Yen team has had many players called up to join the U22 Vietnam team including: Duc Thong, Ngoc Bao, Tien Dat, Martin and Trong Long, the U19 Vietnam team: Huynh Cong Den and Le Van Do. The most "expensive" player is: Lo Martin, a Vietnamese player born and raised in Australia.

Before the play-off, Pho Hien players participated in the national U21 tournament, winning the runner-up position (losing to U21 Hanoi) and the style tournament. Defenders Tran Van Hoa, Tran Hoang Phuc and midfielder Nguyen Trong Long were included in the typical squad of this tournament.

In play-off matches, V.League teams are often rated higher than First Division teams, but this time Thanh Hoa does not have much advantage over Pho Hien. On the coaching chair, Coach Hua Hien Vinh is said to have more experience than Coach Mai Xuan Hop. Thanh Hoa's performance is quite low with 9 losses and 2 draws, making the players feel uneasy.

People of Hung Yen longan land are praying that Pho Hien will be promoted to V.League 2020. Photo: PHFC.

Million dollar play-off

"Dare To Play" - "Dare To Play", daring to fight is the image that Pho Hien Club has shown throughout the past season to reach the runner-up position of V.League 2019, winning a place in the V.League Play-Off 2019.

Pho Hien is also known for its "daring" boss, willing to invest heavily in the team, not inferior to Thanh Hoa Club. Therefore, Vinh Stadium's audience will witness a million-dollar play-off match for the second consecutive year.