Will there be a 'death group' at the final round of the 2023 National U.21 Football Tournament?

The 7 teams that won tickets before 1 round are Viettel, Hanoi (Group A), Kon Tum , Da Nang (Group B), Ho Chi Minh City (Group D) and 2 co-hosts Dong A Thanh Hoa and Song Lam Nghe An. On the afternoon of September 13, the last round of the qualifying round determined the remaining 5 names to be present in the final round. They are Khanh Hoa, the first team in Group C after beating Tay Ninh 1-0 (Do Thanh Tai scored) and Dak Lak, the second team in Group C after beating Dong Nai 2-0 (Nguyen Cong Tien and Ngoc Van Nam scored). This match had 1 red card (Cao Quoc Khanh of Dong Nai) and 8 yellow cards (6 cards for Dong Nai).

Nguyen Hoang Ba Vi (17, Dak Lak ) overcomes the pursuit of Dong Nai defenders

The next name is Long An , second in group D after drawing with the leader TP.HCM 1-1 (Phan Minh Ky opened the score for TP.HCM and Nguyen Quoc Loc equalized for Long An). The remaining 2 teams are PVF-CAND, ranked third in group A after beating Phu Tho 6-0 (Tran Gia Huy and Phung Quang Tu both scored twice, Nguyen Le Phat and Doan Huy Long scored the remaining 2 goals) and Tay Ninh, third in group C.

U.21 Long An (white shirt) won the right to enter the final round

The remaining matches were just to decide the rankings. For example, Viettel beat Hanoi 1-0 (Vu Tung Duong scored) to lead Group A, pushing the defending champion to second place. Kon Tum tied Da Nang 1-1 (Nguyen Minh Tam equalized for Kon Tum after Ha Ngoc Quang Minh opened the score for the Han River army). Kon Tum deservedly led Group B and Da Nang ranked second. Some other procedural matches: Quang Nam beat Quang Ngai 5-0, Hue drew with HAGL 1-1, Trung Tam Dao Ha beat Luxury Ha Long 2-1, Tien Giang beat Can Tho 3-2.

Tieu Trung Hieu (29, Viettel) dribbles the ball past defender Vu Van Son (Hanoi)

Thus, 12 teams have entered the final round of the 2023 National U.21 tournament, including: Viettel, Hanoi, PVF-CAND (Group A); Kon Tum, Da Nang (Group B); Khanh Hoa, Dak Lak, Tay Ninh (Group C); Ho Chi Minh City, Long An (Group D). In the final round, the 12 teams will be divided equally into 3 groups, each group has 4 teams. Groups A and B will compete in Thanh Hoa, Group C will compete in Nghe An. After the group stage, the 6 first and second place teams of the 3 groups and the 2 third-placed teams with the best results will be determined to enter the quarter-finals (according to the prescribed codes, attached schedule).

Exciting match between Viettel and Hanoi, 1-0

There is likely to be a "death group" in the final round.

Also on the afternoon of September 13, the U.21 tournament organizing committee announced the principles of drawing lots to schedule the final round. Specifically as follows: Co-host Thanh Hoa is in group A with code 1A to play the opening match. Co-host Song Lam Nghe An is in group C with code 1C. The 4 qualifying round winners and the 2 co-host teams are drawn into 3 groups, each group has 2 teams. The first and second place teams in the qualifying round are not in the same group in the final round.

Both Tay Ninh (red shirt) and Khanh Hoa made it to the final round.

The order of drawing lots is as follows: first, draw lots for the 4 group winners, Viettel, Kon Tum, Khanh Hoa and Ho Chi Minh City into 3 groups, in which group B must have 2 teams, 2 groups A and C each have 1 team, ensuring principle number 3. Next, draw lots or arrange for the 4 second-placed teams of the qualifying round, Hanoi, Da Nang, Dak Lak and Long An into 3 groups ensuring principle number 4 (not in the same group as the first-placed team of the qualifying round). For example, Hanoi is not in the same group as Viettel, Da Nang is not in the same group as Kon Tum. Next, draw lots or arrange for the remaining 2 teams, PVF-CAND and Tay Ninh, into the vacant positions (may or may not be in the same group as the first-placed teams of the qualifying round).

Kon Tum's joy after the equalizer

Based on this principle and order of drawing, there will likely be a "death group" in the final round. It could be group A with Thanh Hoa, Viettel, Da Nang and PVF-CAND or Thanh Hoa, Kon Tum, Hanoi and PVF-CAND. Or group C with SLNA, Kon Tum, Hanoi and PVF-CAND or SLNA, Viettel, Da Nang, PVF-CAND. These are all strong candidates for the final round and any team eliminated will be regretful.

The press conference and draw for the final round of the 2023 National U.21 Football Championship will take place at 2:00 p.m. on September 16 at Dong A Palace Hall, Dao Duy Tu Street, Thanh Hoa. The organizing committee has sent invitations to nearly 100 delegates, heads of delegations, coaches of football teams, supervisors, referees, press... to attend this event.

Some pictures of the final day of the qualifying round:

U.21 Da Nang shows determination before match against Kon Tum

The experienced duo of coaches Lu Dinh Tuan (left) and Nguyen Hong Pham of U.21 Ho Chi Minh City

Pham Ngo Minh Quang (9, Kon Tum) in the match against Da Nang

A Vu (10, Tay Ninh) lost to Khanh Hoa (blue shirt) but still entered the final round.

Dispute in the match between Hanoi (yellow shirt) and Viettel

Coach Duong Hong Son observes the defense of Hanoi team (right) against Viettel's attack

Coach Phan Thanh Duc of U.21 Da Nang gives decisive instructions

Dong Nai's goalkeeper Ly Toan Tam blocks Dak Lak's attack

Center back Nguyen Huu Trong (21, Ho Chi Minh City) blocks the dribbling of striker Nguyen Nhu Y (21, Long An)

Hue drew HAGL (left) 1-1

U.21 PVF-CAND (middle) beat Phu Tho 6-0 to win the 3rd place in Group A to attend the final round.

Final qualifying round ranking

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