By defeating U19 Hoang Anh Gia Lai, U19 Song Lam Nghe An secured an early ticket to the quarterfinals of the 2026 U19 National Championship.
U19 Song Lam Nghe An continued their impressive form by winning 2-1 against U19 Hoang Anh Gia Lai in the second match of Group C at the 2026 National U19 Championship finals. This result gives the young team from Nghe An province a perfect record after two matches, officially securing their place in the quarterfinals with one match remaining.
The match between U19 Song Lam Nghe An and U19 Hoang Anh Gia Lai took place at the PVF Stadium in Hung Yen province on the afternoon of January 17th.
Group C of this year's finals is considered highly competitive, featuring four teams: U19 Song Lam Nghe An, U19 SHB Da Nang, U19 Hoang Anh Gia Lai, and U19 Dong Thap. After the opening round, U19 Hoang Anh Gia Lai is temporarily leading the group with 3 points, while U19 Song Lam Nghe An also secured a resounding 3-0 victory against U19 SHB Da Nang to move into the top group.
Therefore, the match between U19 Song Lam Nghe An and U19 Hoang Anh Gia Lai in the second round is crucial. The winning team will secure an early ticket to the quarterfinals.
Entering the match, coach Nguyen Hong Viet made notable adjustments to the personnel and tactical approach. U19 Song Lam Nghe An started confidently, proactively controlling the game and constantly putting pressure on the opponent's half. Attacks down the flanks were frequently launched, with the right wing, featuring Tan Minh and Anh Dung, becoming a particularly dangerous attacking threat.
Right from the opening minutes, the Nghe An team created a clear opportunity. In the 10th minute, Tan Minh broke down the right flank and delivered a perfect cross for Cao Hoang Dat to head the ball, but the striker's header went just wide of the post.
After several consecutive attacks, U19 Song Lam Nghe An capitalized on their advantage with the opening goal in the 20th minute. From a clever through pass from a teammate, Cao Hoang Dat broke free, faced the U19 Hoang Anh Gia Lai goalkeeper, and calmly finished, giving the yellow-shirted team the lead.
Having scored an early goal, U19 Song Lam Nghe An continued to maintain a tight game, controlling the midfield well and organizing effective transitions. In the 30th minute, Cao Hoang Dat had another opportunity after a cross from the right wing, but the U19 Hoang Anh Gia Lai goalkeeper made a timely save.
In the 40th minute, the team from Nghe An doubled their lead. From a free kick on the left wing, Hoang Minh Hoi rushed in and finished accurately, increasing the score to 2-0. Before the first half ended, U19 Song Lam Nghe An had another chance to increase the score to 3-0, but the shot from the attacking central defender hit the crossbar.
In the second half, U19 Hoang Anh Gia Lai pushed their formation higher in an attempt to narrow the score. The team from Pleiku increased the pressure with many aerial balls and direct attacks. However, the U19 Song Lam Nghe An defense remained focused and neutralized most of the dangerous opportunities.
In the 72nd minute, from a corner kick, U19 Hoang Anh Gia Lai scored to reduce the deficit to 1-2 after a powerful header by Le Phu Thai. The goal boosted the morale of the team from Pleiku and created significant pressure in the final minutes.
Nevertheless, with composure and skill, U19 Song Lam Nghe An successfully maintained their advantage to close out the match with a 2-1 victory. With a perfect 6 points after 2 matches, Coach Nguyen Hong Viet's team officially secured a place in the quarterfinals of the 2026 National U19 Championship with one match remaining.
In the final group stage match, U19 Song Lam Nghe An will face U19 Dong Thap to complete the group stage and aim to maintain their top position in Group C, creating a favorable psychological momentum for their journey ahead in this year's tournament.
