Nam Truong scores to earn Hanoi FC national U19 title

ABO/NDO – Hanoi FC claimed the national U19 football title for the fourth consecutive time after edging out Hoang Anh Gia Lai in the final match on March 17, thanks to a solitary first-half strike by Nguyen Nam Truong.

Hanoi FC players celebrate winning their fourth consecutive national U19 title.

With a high-quality lineup, Hanoi FC promptly set the pace of the game right from the start and produced many dangerous opportunities in the penalty box of the home side.

The guests only needed 18 minutes to find the back of the net, as Nguyen Nam Truong took a through ball from his teammate before beating Gia Lai goalkeeper Nguyen Van Hiep to put his team in front.

For the remainder of the first half, Hanoi FC played with solid defence and prevented the Gia Lai team from creating any clear-cut chances. Manager Vu Hong Viet’s side even came close to doubling their advantage with a header Van Thang fired at the crossbar.

Hoang Anh Gia Lai intensified their offensive pressure after the break seeking to equalise the score. Their most dangerous show came in the 57th minute, with Cao Hoang Tu driving a header narrowly wide to the regrets of local fans.

Despite their concerted efforts, manager Guillaume Graechen’s side could not break through Hanoi’s resilient defence with time running out and had to accept finishing as the overall runners-up in this year’s tournament.

This is the fourth time in a row that the capital team have lifted the national U19 trophy. The third prize was shared by Song Lam Nghe An and SHB Da Nang.

In addition to their championship crown, Hanoi FC’s joy was multiplied as two of their players, Ngo Duc Hoang and Quan Van Chuan, were voted the “best player” and the “best goalkeeper” of the competition, respectively.

(Source: NDO)