Yesterday, March 8, the opening matches of Group B in the Final Round of the 4th Vietnam Thanh Nien Student Football Championship - 2026 THACO Cup (TNSV THACO Cup 2026) took place at Nha Trang University Stadium (Khanh Hoa). It was a day of celebration for Dong Nai University of Technology (DNTU) and Thuy Loi University, both securing crucial victories.

Goals as Gifts for International Women's Day

DNTU had a smooth start with a 2-0 victory over Ho Chi Minh City University of Education. Captain Nguyen Phu Hong Phuc stole the spotlight with a masterclass corner kick that curled directly into the opponent's net. This rare goal from the former NutiFood Academy player in the 21st minute relieved the pressure, breaking the deadlock and allowing DNTU to play with newfound inspiration. Hong Phuc also played a key role in the final 2-0 goal, delivering another precise corner for teammate Nguyen Pham Dang Khoa to head past goalkeeper Pham Gia Bao.

Despite their loss, Ho Chi Minh City University of Education showed great effort and created several scoring chances but unfortunately failed to capitalize. The strength of DNTU lay in their seamless chemistry and fluid gameplay, which earned them a perfect 3 points.

Head Coach Le Huu Phat shared: "The opening match is always difficult, so I am very satisfied with what the players achieved. Seeing Hong Phuc score directly from a corner can be summed up in one word: Thrilling! However, it wasn't a total surprise, as the team has practiced these set-piece coordinations extensively." Coach Phat noted that with Group B containing formidable opponents like Thuy Loi University and Dong Thap University, DNTU must take it one game at a time. "Dong Thap University showed great resilience in their debut, so we must at least secure a point against them in the next match to build momentum for the final showdown against the group favorites, Thuy Loi University," he added.

Meanwhile, a beaming Nguyen Phu Hong Phuc, voted Man of the Match, wittily remarked: "On International Women's Day, I would like to dedicate my goal and our team's victory to all the ladies at Dong Nai University of Technology."

The Former Runners-up Return Strong

In the other Group B fixture, Dong Thap University and Thuy Loi University delivered a high-quality performance. Nearly 100 fans traveled from the "Land of the Pink Lotus" to Nha Trang University to support Dong Thap, while Thuy Loi University also enjoyed enthusiastic cheers from their loyal supporters.

After a tightly contested scoreless first half, Thuy Loi University broke the ice in the 49th minute with a close-range finish by Do Huu Hai. Following a corner, Duc Hoan headed the ball perfectly into Huu Hai’s path, who made no mistake. The lead was doubled in the 60th minute when Nguyen Hoang Danh successfully converted a penalty after goalkeeper Nguyen Lam Vu fouled Ngo Duong Manh. Captain Hoang Danh solidified the 3-0 victory with a stunning free kick.

After missing out on the last Final Round, the two-time runners-up, Thuy Loi University, have made a powerful comeback. However, Coach Vu Van Trung remained cautious, stating that many challenges still lie ahead. For Dong Thap University, Coach Joao Pedro and his team will look to learn from this experience and regroup for their two "do-or-die" matches remaining in Group B.

Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper

REPORTED BY: DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATIONS AND EVENTS