U19 Song Lam Nghe An and the goal at the National Finals

Impressive qualifying round

Started with many doubts due to the inexperienced squad (most of the players were born in 2007-2008) and the 3-year hiatus of the U17 and U19 teams.Lam River Nghe An(SLNA) surprised experts when it excellently passed the qualifying round of the 2025 National U19 Tournament.

Under the guidance of coach Nguyen Huy Hoang, the Nghe An team won 9 matches, drew 1 match after 10 matches, topped Group B and defeated the host PVF in the decisive match. This achievement not only exceeded initial expectations but also affirmed the remarkable maturity of the young players.

Despite not having the strongest squad, U19 SLNA has proven its mettle thanks to its versatile tactics. Coach Nguyen Huy Hoang cleverly rotated between the 3-5-2, 3-4-3, 4-2-3-1 and 4-3-3 formations, making it difficult for opponents to predict and prone to mistakes. Thanks to that, U19 Song Lam Nghe An has achieved results far beyond initial expectations.

However, coach Nguyen Huy Hoang still modestly commented: "To be honest, I am not completely satisfied with the team's coordination and approach to the goal. However, the players have known how to promote the spirit of solidarity and strong will to achieve good results in the qualifying round. But we need to temporarily forget the recent victories, recognize our true abilities and compete with the mindset of a mid-level team in the final round."

Goals in the final round

The final round, taking place from February 15 to February 28 in Ba Ria - Vung Tau, will be a big challenge for U19 Song Lam Nghe An. 12 strong teams are divided into 3 groups, in which the young team from Nghe An must compete with formidable opponents such as Viettel, Hanoi, PVF and Binh Phuoc - teams that have invested thoroughly in both human resources and tactics.

Despite a convincing performance in the qualifying round, U19 Song Lam Nghe An still has many issues that need improvement, especially in defense. Mainstay center back Hoang Minh Hoi is injured for a long time, forcing the team to rely on the return of Phan Van Thanh (from the first team) to stabilize the goal.

In addition, the team's midfield was also strengthened when midfielder Pham Nguyen Quoc Trung was transferred from the first team to U19. This addition will help coach Nguyen Huy Hoang's team have more solidity and creativity in their playing style.

"We are lucky to receive the attention of the club's leadership, helping to add two quality players to the squad. Hopefully, with the reinforced force, U19 Song Lam Nghe An will play more strongly and coherently to aim for the goal of winning medals. However, the most important thing is to create conditions for young players to rub shoulders and accumulate experience before stepping onto the professional playing field," Coach Nguyen Huy Hoang shared.

With outstanding performance in the qualifying round and the reinforcement of the team, U19 SLNA is receiving great expectations from Nghe An fans. Although the challenge is not small, the spirit of solidarity and flexible tactics will be the weapons to help the team continue to write the dream.