SLNA Crowned Champions of the 2026 National U21 Football Championship
On the afternoon of 25 July, at the PVF Youth Football Training Centre in Hung Yen, the final of the 2026 National U21 Football Championship took place between Song Lam Nghe An (SLNA) U21 and The Cong Viettel U21.
04/08/2026 14:39:57Given the significance of the final, both teams adopted a cautious approach from the outset, prioritising defensive solidity. SLNA U21 enjoyed more possession, thanks to several players with V.League experience, while The Cong Viettel U21 remained compact and looked to exploit counter-attacking opportunities. During the opening 20 minutes, the match was evenly contested, with few clear-cut chances created.
From the middle of the first half, SLNA U21 gradually increased the pressure. In the 33rd minute, Thanh Binh found the back of the net, but the goal was ruled out for offside. Eight minutes later, following a corner that led to a series of attempts inside the penalty area, Thanh Duc struck decisively to give SLNA U21 a 1-0 lead.
After the break, SLNA U21 continued to dictate the tempo and nearly doubled their advantage in the 50th minute, only to be denied by an outstanding save from goalkeeper Duc Duy. At the other end, The Cong Viettel U21 pushed more players forward in search of an equaliser but found it difficult to break down their opponents’ well-organised defence.
The army team mainly attacked down the flanks in an effort to create openings, but lacked precision in the final third. In the 72nd minute, The Cong Viettel U21 found the net once again, only for the goal to be disallowed for offside.
From that point on, SLNA U21 dropped deeper to protect their advantage, allowing Thể Công Viettel U21 to dominate possession. In the 84th minute, the Nghệ An side were reduced to 10 men after Nguyên Hoàng received his second yellow card and was sent off. With the numerical advantage, Thể Công Viettel U21 piled on the pressure in the closing stages, but goalkeeper Cao Văn Bình and the SLNA U21 defence remained composed to preserve their lead.
At the final whistle, SLNA U21 secured a 1-0 victory over Thể Công Viettel U21 to be crowned champions of the 2026 National U21 Football Championship. It was a well-deserved triumph for head coach Nguyễn Huy Hoàng and his players, who demonstrated consistency, resilience, and composure throughout the tournament.
