U19 SLNA is empty-handed again: Is it "curse"?

Since the championship in 2006, U19 SLNA has not won a sixth trophy for itself, although it still holds the record of 5 championships. While in recent years, the youth teams at SLNA, namely Nhi Dong (U11), Thieu Nien (U13), U15, U17 and U21, have all solved their "title thirst", U19 still has to sadly endure the empty-handed situation. 13 years - not a short period of time.

According to experts and football fans in Nghe An, U19 SLNA has not won recent tournaments for two reasons: the decline of SLNA's training center and at the same time the rise of other training centers such as Hanoi, HAGL, PVF, Viettel... However, there are still many people who believe that U19 SLNA is being haunted by the "curse" of empty-handedness.

Playing in the finals 5/13 times (2007, 2008, 2012, 2013 and 2014), along with hosting the tournament once (2015), but U19 SLNA still could not win the 6th championship. From the generation of Nguyen Trong Hoang, Hoang Van Binh, Nguyen Dinh Hiep... to Tran Nguyen Manh, Tran Phi Son, Vu Quang Nam, Ho Khac Ngoc, Que Ngoc Hai, Vo Ngoc Toan, Ho Tuan Tai, Phan Van Duc... all accepted "giving up" with the National U19 Finals.

U19 SLNA continues to miss the championship. Photo: slnafc

Look no further than the failure of coach Nguyen Van Tien and his team in this year's tournament. Having convincingly qualified (won 6, drawn 2), U19 SLNA were in Group B with U19 Hanoi, U19 B.Binh Duong and U19 Phu Yen in the finals. In the opening match, the young team from Nghe An defeated U19 B.Binh Duong 2-1, before sharing points with U19 Hanoi (1-1) and defeating U19 Phu Yen 2-0. U19 SLNA won the top spot in the group with an unbeaten record.

Speaking after the match U19 SLNA - U19 Hanoi (1 - 1) ended, coach Vu Quoc Viet of the capital team said: "In this tournament, I rate U19 SLNA the highest because they have players with the ability to make great changes in speed and physical strength. As for HAGL, I rate them as being able to reach the semi-finals, achieving the goal of being in the TOP 4 strongest teams. As for reaching the final match, I do not rate HAGL highly."

But things went in a different direction. U19 SLNA was "knocked out" by U19 HAGL with 2 goals from counter-attacks (the opening goal was scored from the penalty spot). Coach Nguyen Van Tien and his team accepted defeat in a match where they had a slight advantage in terms of game position and opportunities created. The 0-2 loss to U19 HAGL partly proved that U19 SLNA still had not been supported by luck at important moments.

When will U19 SLNA break the "curse" that has haunted them for the past 13 years?