Football

Đồng Tháp's goalkeeper tries to block an attack of Sông Lam Nghệ An during their National U17 Football Championship match on March 12. Nghệ An won 3-0. Photos of VFF

HƯNG YÊN — Sông Lam Nghệ An and Viettel won the first tickets to the quarter-finals of the National U17 Football Championship on March 12.

Nguyễn Trọng Tuấn put two in before Phạm Nguyễn Quốc Trung scored just three minutes after the interval for Nghệ An in their 3-0 win over Đồng Tháp at the PVF Training Centre Stadium.

Nghệ An secured their second win in two matches to top Group B and qualified for the knock-out round. Meanwhile, Đồng Tháp suffered its second defeat to remain at the bottom.

In the other match of the group, Huế and Khánh Hòa tied each other in a goalless game. Huế, with four points, stayed second while Khánh Hòa, with one, was third.

In Group C, Nguyễn Hoàng Bá Việt netted the only goal of the match at the 74th minute to give Viettel a 1-0 win over Hồng Lĩnh Hà Tĩnh. 

Viettel players celebrate their goal in a 1-0 win over Hồng Lĩnh Hà Tĩnh.

Viettel has six points to top the group, followed by Bình Phước with four points.

Bình Phước defeated HCM City 2-0 with goals by Nguyễn Tấn Sang and Trần Quốc Khánh.

Hà Tĩnh was third with one point while HCM City has not found its first point.

In Group A, the two matches ended with a draw result.

Hà Nội went ahead with a goal by Nguyễn Tiến Đạt at the 77th minute. Host PVF levelled the score one minute prior the end of the match when Lê Thắng Long headed strong to send the ball home.

Earlier, Huỳnh Văn Danh scored at the 22nd minute to push SHB Đà Nẵng in the lead against Hoàng Anh Gia Lai, who suffered a humiliating 5-0 loss in the first match on March 10.

Hoàng Anh Gial Lai quickly levelled the score when K’Nhịp netted at the 31st minute after a series of attempts by the central highlands club. It was their first goal of the tournament, which is known as the Thái Sơn Nam Cup.

PVF with four points is in the top position, followed by Đà Nẵng, Hà Nội and Hoàng Anh Gia Lai.

The last round match will be on March 14.

The three top teams in the group stage, three second-place teams and two third-place clubs will advance to the quarter-finals.

The final match will be on March 21 with the champions walking away with VNĐ100 million (US$4,200). VNS