The U13 PVF squad defeated U13 Guangzhou Team Red (China) to qualify for the FT Cup 2026 semifinals.
The youth team of Vietnam quickly took control thanks to their flexible teamwork and strong ball possession. Their fast-paced attacks caused many difficulties for Guangzhou Team Red’s defense, often leaving them on the back foot.
The turning point came in the 24th minute when Nguyễn Trường An made a breakthrough on the left wing, forcing the opposing defender to commit a foul inside the penalty area. From the penalty spot, Đoàn Thiên Phú executed a precise shot to give U13 PVF the lead.
After scoring, Coach Trần Duy Quang’s players maintained their dominance. Before the half ended, U13 PVF doubled their advantage in the 45th minute. From a well-organized attack starting in their own half, Hoàng Mạnh Thái crossed from the right flank, the ball hit the post, and Phạm Quang Khải quickly finished to make it 2-0.
In the remaining half, U13 PVF played solidly, controlled the game well, and did not allow their opponents any chance to reduce the deficit. The 2-0 victory secured Vietnam’s representative a place in the semifinals, scheduled for February 7th.
FT Cup 2026 is an international youth tournament held in China from February 3rd to 8th, featuring 28 U13 teams from countries including China, Vietnam, Thailand, and Germany. The teams are divided into 7 groups, playing a single round-robin before advancing to the knockout stage.