U9 Song Lam Nghe An defeated U9 Phu Tho, securing a place in the quarterfinals.

On the morning of August 19th, in Quang Ngai, U9 Song Lam Nghe An entered the Round of 16 of the 2026 National U9 Championship against U9 Phu Tho. This was the first match in the knockout round, so neither team had a chance to correct their mistakes if they lost.

U9 Song Lam Nghe An entered this match with great confidence after a convincing performance in the group stage. Coach Pham The Nhat's team won all three matches, earning 9 points and finishing first in Group C. Meanwhile, U9 Phu Tho had 6 points and secured second place in Group D.

Despite being considered the stronger team, U9 Song Lam Nghe An fielded a strong lineup with many key players such as Captain Tang Duc Phuc, Ngo Bui Duy Phuoc, Thai Ba Duy Khoa, and An Duc Lam. Right after the opening whistle, the young team from Nghe An proactively pushed forward and organized attacks.

Early pressure paid off. From an attack down the left wing, the ball was brought down to the byline before being passed back inside. A shot from a U9 Song Lam Nghe An player was blocked by a Phu Tho defender's hand inside the penalty area. The referee immediately pointed to the penalty spot.

Captain Tang Duc Phuc took responsibility for the penalty and made no mistake. His decisive shot into the top corner beat the U9 Phu Tho goalkeeper, giving U9 Song Lam Nghe An the lead.

After conceding a goal, U9 Phu Tho tried to push forward and created several notable opportunities. However, before they could find an equalizer, the team from the North continued to concede another goal.

Towards the end of the first half, Duc Lam created one of the most notable moments of the match. Receiving the ball in the midfield area, the player wearing number 8 boldly broke through, dribbling past several defenders and even the U9 Phu Tho goalkeeper before finishing into an empty net. This beautiful solo run helped U9 Song Lam Nghe An increase the score to 2-0 before halftime.

In the second half, U9 Phu Tho played with more determination and proactively increased the pressure. Their efforts were rewarded in the 26th minute. Player number 10, Nhat Minh, showed skillful footwork, evading the U9 Song Lam Nghe An defense before unleashing a beautiful shot into the top corner, reducing the score to 1-2.

The goal made the match more tense as U9 Phu Tho continued to push forward in search of an equalizer. However, under pressure from their opponents, the U9 Song Lam Nghe An defense maintained its focus and remained quite well-organized.

Not only did they maintain their advantage, but the Nghe An team also capitalized on the gaps created when their opponents pushed their formation forward. In the final minutes of the match, from an attack down the left wing, Ngo Bui Duy Phuoc approached the goal and unleashed a quick shot, scoring to increase the score to 3-1.

This was also the final score of the match. Defeating U9 Phu Tho with a score of 3-1, U9 Song Lam Nghe An officially secured their place in the quarterfinals of the 2026 National U9 Championship.