China U22 leads; Thanh Hoa bids farewell to Choi Won Kwon

Two key highlights of Vietnamese football on November 16th: China U22 defeated South Korea U22 2-0 to temporarily take the lead in the Panda Cup 2025 in a special situation where all four teams have 3 points; in the V-League, Dong A Thanh Hoa Club confirmed the departure of coach Choi Won Kwon during a restructuring phase.

Panda Cup 2025: China U22 wins 2-0, title race wide open.

On the evening of November 15th, the South Korean U22 team suffered a shocking 0-2 defeat to the Chinese U22 team in their second match. This result puts the Chinese U22 team temporarily at the top of the standings after two rounds, as China, South Korea, Vietnam, and Uzbekistan all have 3 points (one win and one loss each). The final match on November 18th will therefore be a "final" with all four teams still having a chance to win the championship.

With four teams tied on 3 points, Vietnam U22 will face South Korea U22 in a crucial match.

Final match schedule (November 18):

• Vietnam U22 vs South Korea U22
• China U22 vs Uzbekistan U22

In a situation of "absolute balance," the value of each final touch, decisiveness in the penalty area, and the ability to maintain the pressing tempo will become the deciding factors. These are also the key points emphasized by coach Dinh Hong Vinh after the loss to U22 Uzbekistan.

Vietnam U22's tactical approach: pressing rhythm and decisiveness in the final moments.

Speaking after the match, coach Dinh Hong Vinh said: “We regret that the players created some good opportunities but lacked a bit of accuracy and decisiveness in the final moments.” He added: “Despite conceding an early goal, the team remained calm, tried to adjust and regain their rhythm. I am satisfied with the players' efforts and attitude, although there are still areas to improve in the final touches and the ability to maintain the pressing tempo.”

Looking at the two statements, the focus for Vietnam U22 before the match against South Korea U22 is: (1) improving the quality of "final action" - from the choice of shooting to the decisive pass; (2) maintaining a sufficiently long pressing intensity to protect the central axis and create opportunities to convert the ball in the final third of the field. In the context of everyone having 3 points, efficiency rather than the number of opportunities will be key.

Doan Van Hau makes a comeback: positive signal from Singapore.

At the club level, Doan Van Hau returned to the pitch in a friendly match in Singapore, wearing the captain's armband for CAHN. He competed confidently and wasn't afraid of physical contact – qualities familiar from his time with the national team. Coach Polking's decision to include him in the starting lineup shows that the coaching staff believes he has recovered sufficiently to get back into rhythm with the game.

For the Vietnamese national team, the return of a highly combative full-back is a major personnel boost, especially in scenarios requiring strong wing play both defensively and in transitions.

Thanh Hoa parts ways with coach Choi Won Kwon, looking towards a domestic coach.

Dong A Thanh Hoa FC has confirmed the termination of its contract with head coach Choi Won Kwon after a process of "respectful and understanding" discussions. The decision comes as the team adjusts its resources and restructures its finances to achieve long-term stability. The team will appoint a domestic coach – Mr. Mai Xuan Hop.

Economic difficulties have significantly impacted personnel plans. The club has parted ways with many key players such as Que Ngoc Hai, Lucas Ribamar, and Vo Nguyen Hoang… Meanwhile, club owner Cao Tien Doan faced legal troubles and was arrested, requiring changes in operations to adapt.

Bac Ninh FC advances to the quarterfinals of the National Cup; Viet Thang Steel wins VCS-S5 championship.

In the LPBank Securities National Cup 2025-2026, Bac Ninh FC defeated Khatoco Khanh Hoa on penalties after a tense 0-0 draw at the 19/8 Stadium in Nha Trang, thus securing a place in the quarterfinals. A notable feature of the match was the extreme caution displayed by both sides, pushing the game to a nerve-wracking penalty shootout.

In the 7-a-side football arena, the VCS-S5 Southern Region final concluded with the first championship title for Viet Thang Steel, a victory described as convincing.

FAM is awaiting a document from FIFA and has not yet appealed to CAS.

In Malaysia, fans are worried about the potential impact of sanctions from FIFA or AFC on the national team. However, according to the New Straits Times, the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) has chosen to wait for a full written explanation from FIFA before deciding whether to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

This move shows that FAM prioritizes a clear legal basis before exercising its right to appeal – a cautious step in the context of needing to protect the interests of the national team and the domestic league.