Long Thanh U.11 crowned champions of 21st Dong Nai Newspaper and Radio, Television – C.P. Vietnam Children’s Football Cup

The 21st Dong Nai Newspaper and Radio, Television – C.P. Vietnam Children’s Football Cup 2026 concluded after several days of exciting competition, with Long Thanh U.11 claiming the championship after defeating Phuoc Long U.11 2-1 in a penalty shootout in the final.

Organizers, delegates, sponsors and the champion Long Thanh U.11 team. Photo: Huy Anh

On the afternoon of August 9, at the City Sports Training and Competition Center, Dong Nai Newspaper and Radio, Television (DNNRTV), in coordination with the Department of Education and Training (DoET) and the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism (DoCST), held the closing ceremony of the 21st Dong Nai Newspaper and Radio, Television – C.P. Vietnam Children’s Football Cup 2026.

An overview of the closing ceremony of the 21st Dong Nai Newspaper and Radio, Television – C.P. Vietnam Children’s Football Cup. Photo: Thuy Tien

The ceremony was attended by Le Thi Ngoc Loan, member of the Dong Nai Party Committee,  Director of DoCST; Nguyen Huu Nguyen, member of the Dong Nai Party Committee, Secretary of the Long Thanh Ward Party Committee,  Chairman of the ward People’s Council; Chu Manh Hoai, Head of the General and Continuing Education Division under DoET; and Bui Anh Vu, Director of the City Sports Training and Competition Center.

Representing Dong Nai Newspaper and Radio, Television were Deputy Director in charge Cao Quoc Sang, head of the organizing board, along with Deputy Directors Tran Nam Dong, Hoang Binh Long, and Hoang Thi Bich Phu, who also served as deputy heads of the organizing board.

The ceremony was also attended by leaders of departments and agencies, sponsors, referees, participating teams, coaches, parents, and a large number of spectators.

Speaking at the closing ceremony, Cao Quoc Sang, Deputy Director in charge of DNNRTV and head of the organizing board, praised the teams for their spirit of solidarity, honesty, and fair play, while congratulating the teams and individuals who achieved outstanding results at this year’s tournament.

According to Sang, the most valuable legacy of the tournament is not limited to cups, medals, or titles, but also includes lessons in determination, perseverance, and teamwork, as well as the lasting friendships formed throughout the competition. These are also the human values that the Dong Nai Newspaper and Radio, Television – C.P. Vietnam Children’s Football Cup has promoted over more than two decades.

The success of this year’s tournament once again highlights the important role of children’s sports in promoting grassroots physical activity and providing a healthy environment for children to train and develop comprehensively. It also contributes to identifying and nurturing young football talents for Dong Nai and Vietnamese football.

Sang expressed his sincere appreciation for the attention, leadership, and direction of the Dong Nai Party Committee, People’s Committee; the coordination of departments, agencies, local authorities, and schools; and the continued support of sponsors and media organizations, particularly C.P. Vietnam Livestock Joint Stock Company, which has accompanied the tournament for many years. The organizing board also acknowledged and thanked the refereeing team, medical and security personnel, and other support staff, as well as coaches, teachers, parents, and fans for their contributions throughout the tournament.

Earlier, the final of the 21st Dong Nai Newspaper and Radio, Television – C.P. Vietnam Children’s Football Cup 2026 between Phuoc Long U.11 and Long Thanh U.11 drew enthusiastic support from a large crowd of spectators.

Players from both teams compete with determination in the final. Photo: Huy Anh

The final was a rematch between Phuoc Long U.11 and Long Thanh U.11. Aware of Phuoc Long U.11’s technical ability, the Long Thanh coaching staff instructed their players to press aggressively and closely mark their opponents whenever they had possession. The strategy limited the attacking strength of Phuoc Long U.11 and disrupted the effective combination play of the trio of Le Minh Thien, Hoang Chan Phong, and Duong Tien Khang.

Having already faced each other, the two teams played a tight, high-pressure game from the outset, creating a closely contested encounter. Both sides worked hard to attack and find a breakthrough, but strong defensive performances, particularly from the goalkeepers, kept the score level throughout the first half.

Long Thanh U.11 players repeatedly create dangerous situations in front of the opponents’ goal. Photo: Huy Anh

The second half continued in the same competitive fashion, with both teams trading attacks through coordinated moves and powerful long-range efforts. In the 24th minute, Hoang Chan Phong (No. 6) broke the deadlock for Phuoc Long U.11 with a clinical finish following a sharp attacking move. However, Phuoc Long could not hold on to their lead. In the 39th minute, Ho Nguyen Minh Khoi (No. 11) produced a superb direct free kick to level the score at 1-1 for Long Thanh U.11, sending the match back to square one.

Neither side could find another goal in the remaining minutes, leaving the game tied 1-1 after regulation time and forcing the championship to be decided by a penalty shootout.

In the 6-meter penalty shootout, Long Thanh U.11 showed greater composure to beat Phuoc Long U.11 after five rounds of kicks. Goalkeeper Ho Nguyen Minh Khoi (No. 11) emerged as the hero of Long Thanh’s triumph. Playing as the goalkeeper during the shootout, he made three outstanding saves to deny Phuoc Long’s penalty takers. With a 2-1 victory on penalties, Long Thanh U.11 were crowned champions of the 21st edition of the tournament.

Long Thanh U.11 players celebrate after winning the championship. Photo: Thuy Tien

At the closing ceremony, the organizing board presented awards to the teams and individuals with outstanding performances. Long Thanh U.11 won the championship, Phuoc Long U.11 finished runners-up, while Tan Trieu U.11 and Phuoc Binh U.11 shared third place.

The organizing board also honored the tournament’s outstanding refereeing team and presented the Fair Play Award to Long Thanh U.11. The Best Goalkeeper award went to Phuoc Long U.11 goalkeeper Nguyen Hoang Ngoc Hieu. The Golden Boot was jointly awarded to Doan Nguyen Quang Huy (No. 10, Tan Trieu U.11) and Nguyen Nam Khanh (No. 7, Bien Hoa U.11), with both players scoring 11 goals.

After four days of competition, the 21st Dong Nai Newspaper and Radio, Television – C.P. Vietnam Children’s Football Cup 2026 came to a close, leaving behind memorable images, exciting matches, and valuable experiences for the young players. The tournament is expected to provide a platform for more young talents to be discovered and nurtured, contributing to the development of football in Dong Nai and Vietnam in the years to come.

By Huy Anh, Thanh Nhan, Thuy Tien – Translated by Mai Nga, Minho