Viettel U17 wins the 2023 National U17 Championship.

Viettel U17 asserted their superior class and won 4-2 in the final match. Photo: Hai Hoang

U17 Hong Linh Ha Tinh had a sweet adventure at the 2023 National U17 Championship. From a team that qualified for the finals through a wildcard, they fought with all their heart and determination to reach the final. And now they are just one win away from the championship against U17 Viettel.

However, that won't be easy, because the military team has proven its absolute strength with a perfect winning record since the 2023 U17 National Championship finals. In particular, in a group stage match, U17 Viettel defeated U17 Hong Linh Ha Tinh 1-0. Therefore, it's not surprising that experts consider Viettel to be the favorite.

Viettel got off to a good start, opening the scoring in the 6th minute of the match. Photo: Hai Hoang

This was confirmed by coach Nguyen Van Bien's players right from the start of the match. U17 Viettel proactively pushed forward and organized attacks towards U17 Hong Linh Ha Tinh's goal. As usual, captain Cong Phuong remained the driving force in U17 Viettel's attack.

The pressure exerted by the military team on Ha Tinh's side of the field was materialized by a goal in the 7th minute of the match. From an attack just outside the penalty area, a Viettel player's shot struck the outstretched arm of a Ha Tinh defender, and the referee immediately awarded a penalty to coach Van Bien's team. From the penalty spot, captain Cong Phuong made no mistake, opening the scoring for U17 Viettel.

Trailing behind once again puts Hong Linh Ha Tinh's unwavering spirit to the test, something they had already demonstrated in the semi-final against hosts PVF.

In the 16th minute, Hong Linh Ha Tinh had their first shot on goal towards Anh Chien's net. From a free kick more than 30 meters from the Viettel goal, Tran Ngoc Dung unleashed a shot with a tricky trajectory, but the ball went just over the crossbar.

However, that wasn't the most regrettable opportunity Hong Linh Ha Tinh created towards Anh Chien's goal in the first half. A clear scoring chance was created by coach Vo Quang's players in the 26th minute, but Chien Thang, in a one-on-one situation with the Viettel goalkeeper, shot the ball over the crossbar.

Following relentless attacks from Hong Linh Ha Tinh, the U17 Viettel players lost their composure. Coach Van Bien's team couldn't control the midfield and frequently made inaccurate passes. This allowed the Hong Linh team to launch sharp attacks.

Despite their best efforts, U17 Hong Linh Ha Tinh could not pull off an upset against the higher-rated team. Photo: Hai Hoang

However, just as the U17 Ha Tinh team's spirits were high, Viettel unexpectedly doubled their lead. The goal came in the 42nd minute, from a free kick on the right wing. Cong Phuong lofted the ball into the opponent's penalty area, and Dang Thanh Binh rose high to head the ball past Hong Linh Ha Tinh's goalkeeper Trong Duong, leaving him helpless.

In the second half, U17 Viettel opted for a defensive counter-attacking style of play, and their excellent transitions created many difficulties for Ha Tinh's defense. In the 48th minute, Duc Do made a daring run down the right wing, dribbling past two opposing defenders before unleashing a powerful shot, but goalkeeper Trong Duong reacted quickly to save Ha Tinh.

But the drama didn't end there. In the 58th minute, U17 Viettel scored their third goal, crushing Ha Tinh's hopes. From a lightning-fast run down the right wing by Cong Hau, completely bypassing the opposing defense, he passed the ball back to Hoang Khanh. The player wearing number 26 easily tapped the ball into the empty net.

Three minutes later, Hong Kien scored again to increase Viettel's lead to 4-0.

It seemed as though Hong Linh Ha Tinh would collapse, but Hoang Phu unexpectedly scored a goal to narrow the gap for his team. From a powerful shot by a teammate outside the penalty area, the ball was pushed out by Anh Chien, finding its way to Hoang Phu's feet, who accurately slotted it into the net of U17 Viettel.

In the final minutes of the match, U17 Hong Linh narrowed the score to 2-4. The goal was scored by Duc Hoang from the penalty spot.

However, that was all that U17 Hong Linh Ha Tinh could achieve. They couldn't continue their dream and had to settle for the silver medal at the 2023 National U17 Championship.