2026 National U21 Championship – FPT Play Cup: HAGL and Song Lam Nghe An claim final Semi-final berths
On the afternoon of 21 July, the remaining two quarter-final matches of the 2026 National U21 Championship – FPT Play Cup took place, with Hoang Anh Gia Lai (HAGL) and Song Lam Nghe An (SLNA) securing the final two places in the semi-finals.
28/07/2026 17:01:36In the opening quarter-final, PVF and Hoang Anh Gia Lai (HAGL) were evenly matched in a tightly contested encounter. Both sides adopted a cautious approach in the first half, resulting in few clear-cut scoring opportunities. Most of the action took place in midfield, and the teams went into the break with the score still goalless.
The pattern of the game changed little after the restart. Although PVF enjoyed more possession, they struggled to break down HAGL’s well-organised defence. With neither side able to find the breakthrough after 90 minutes, the match went to a penalty shootout following a 0-0 draw.
From the spot, HAGL held their nerve to claim a 4-2 victory, becoming the third team to secure a place in the semi-finals.
In the remaining quarter-final, Song Lam Nghe An (SLNA) asserted their dominance early against SHB Da Nang. Van Nam opened the scoring in just the fourth minute, giving the Nghe An side an ideal start. The early breakthrough boosted SLNA’s confidence as they continued to apply sustained pressure on their opponents.
In the 38th minute, Thanh Duc doubled the advantage with a fine finish from a corner-kick situation. Meanwhile, SHB Da Nang struggled to build attacking momentum and created few meaningful chances throughout the opening half.
After the break, SLNA continued to control the game. In the 69th minute, SHB Da Nang were awarded a penalty, and Quang Duyet converted from the spot to reduce the deficit to 2-1, reigniting his side’s hopes of a comeback.
However, as SHB Da Nang pushed forward in search of an equaliser, Quang Vinh struck in the closing stages to seal a 3-1 victory for SLNA. The result sent the Nghe An side through to the semi-finals.
Earlier, in the first two quarter-final matches played on 20 July, Hanoi defeated Cong An Ha Noi 4-2 in a penalty shootout after the two sides were locked at 2-2 at the end of regulation time. Meanwhile, The Cong Viettel edged PVF-CAND 1-0 to book their place in the last four.
The semi-final line-up for the 2026 National U21 Championship is now complete, featuring Hanoi, The Cong Viettel, Hoang Anh Gia Lai (HAGL) and Song Lam Nghe An (SLNA).
