Coach Vu Van Trung sets big goals for the University of Water Resources team in the final round.

The first play-off match in the northern qualifying round of the 2nd Vietnam Youth Student Football Tournament - 2024 THACO Cup ended with an overwhelming 4-0 victory of the University of Water Resources against the University of National Economics. Coach Vu Van Trung's students dominated the match and scored 4 goals against their opponents, thus winning a ticket to the final round taking place in Ho Chi Minh City from March 16 to March 31.

The team of Thuy Loi University had a very impressive qualifying campaign, winning all matches, scoring 12 goals against the teams of Phuong Dong University, Bac Ninh University of Sports and Physical Education and National Economics University.

HLV Vũ Văn Trung đặt mục tiêu lớn cho đội Trường ĐH Thủy lợi ở VCK- Ảnh 1. — Thuyloi University team won ticket to the final round

"I feel very happy, because in just 4 days, the Water Resources University team had 2 very important victories. The players have excellently completed their mission, which is to show the spirit of "Water Resources people" no matter which match they enter, whichever opponent they meet. In this match, we met the National Economics University team. That is a familiar opponent that the Water Resources University team has competed against many times in school tournaments, in the knockout rounds.

I told my students to play with the same spirit as they showed in the previous match against Bac Ninh University of Sports. The players did it," Coach Vu Van Trung shared.

Highlight Thuy Loi University 4-0 National Economics University | TNSV THACO Cup 2024 - Play-off

According to the coach who has been involved with Thuy Loi football for more than two decades, the victory he is most proud of in the qualifying round is the 1-0 victory of the Thuy Loi University team over the Bac Ninh Sports School team. That was the match that helped the runner-up break the knot to enter the play-off round.

Then, with high spirits, the team of Thuy Loi University defeated the familiar opponent, National Economics University, to win a ticket to the final round.

HLV Vũ Văn Trung đặt mục tiêu lớn cho đội Trường ĐH Thủy lợi ở VCK- Ảnh 2. — Coach Vu Van Trung celebrates enthusiastically with his students

"Before the draw for the qualifying round of the 2nd Vietnam Youth Student Football Tournament - 2024, I felt the fierceness of the qualifying round. With a very positive spillover effect in the first season, the number of teams registered for this year's tournament has increased by 1.5 times, to 64 teams. We understand that the northern qualifying round in 2024 will be more difficult because there are 9 participating teams but only 2 spots will be selected.

In group 1, the team of Thuy Loi University also had to face a very strong opponent, which was the team of Bac Ninh University of Physical Education and Sports. The pressure was very great, but the players of the team of Thuy Loi University were used to the pressure. I always told my students to practice hard, practice and practice, to hone their skills, and then we were lucky to go through the very narrow door together," Coach Vu Van Trung shared.

Having reached the finals of the 2023 season, only to lose to Hue University in a penalty shootout, coach Vu Van Trung of the University of Water Resources wants his students to continue to have a high ranking in this year's tournament.

"The Thuy Loi University team has participated in many student tournaments and also reached the finals of the first Vietnam Youth Student Football Tournament - 2023. With the upcoming final round in Ho Chi Minh City, we aim to solve each match one by one, calculate as we play and win prizes (ie, enter the top 3 finalists)", Mr. Trung affirmed.

"The players of the Thuy Loi University team have been trained through many final matches in 2023. Entering 2024, I think the students have matured. The new players have integrated well with their seniors. I believe that in the upcoming final round in Ho Chi Minh City, the Thuy Loi University team will show confidence, overcoming difficulties and courage to devote themselves to the playground."