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A thrilling night of football saw 18 teams battle it out in the final group matchday of the competition’s new format. With a stacked goal tally, the night concluded with the traditional powerhouses remaining undefeated. Liverpool and Barcelona shone as the only teams assured of a spot in the top eight, progressing directly to the round of 16. Despite Liverpool’s 3-2 loss to PSV Eindhoven and Barca’s 2-2 draw with Atalanta, they maintained their first and second rankings, respectively. Joining them in the next round are Arsenal, Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, Aston Villa, and Lille. Lille, in particular, delivered the performance of the night, thrashing Feyenoord 6-1. Manchester City, the 2023 European champions, faced a challenging first half at the Etihad. However, they bounced back in the second half, with goals from Mateo Kovacic, Joel Ordonez (own goal), and Savinho securing their progression. PSG, starting in 22nd place, swiftly rose to the occasion, racing to...

The Golden Dragons claimed a thrilling aggregate win over Thailand in the 2024 ASEAN Championship final, with a 5-3 victory across the two legs. The first match, hosted in Vietnam’s Phu Tho Province, ended 2-1 to the home team. In the return game at Bangkok’s Rajamangala Stadium, Vietnam struck early. A swift counter-attack from a free kick in their own half saw Pham Tuan Hai break free and delicately chip the ball over the Thai goalkeeper to give Vietnam an eighth-minute lead. Pham Tuan Hai wheels away in celebration after scoring in the second leg of the 2024 ASEAN Championship final. His goal gave Vietnam an early lead over Thailand. Image credit: Nguyen Khanh / Tuoi Tre Thailand responded with a quick break of their own in the 24th minute, but Nguyen Thanh Chung’s well-timed tackle halted Supachok Sarachat’s progress. However, just minutes later, Vietnam’s defense was breached. A long-range strike from Ben Davis beat the goalkeeper, leveling the score at 1-1. ...

Ho Chi Minh City police detained Le Sy Manh, a former Vietnamese international footballer, for assaulting a referee during an amateur tournament. The incident, which occurred on December 22, 2024, sparked outrage as a video of Manh’s violent reaction to receiving a red card went viral. Manh, a member of the Thanh Hoa City senior team, lashed out at referee Pham Van Nguyen after being shown a yellow card for a foul. He slapped the referee and was subsequently shown a red card, leading to an even more aggressive response. Manh kicked and punched Nguyen, with the entire incident being captured on camera and shared widely across social media platforms. Born in 1984 in Thanh Hoa Province, Manh represented Vietnam from 2009 to 2010. Throughout his club career, he played for prominent teams such as Hanoi T&T, Vissai Ninh Binh, FLC Thanh Hoa, Quang Nam, Xuan Thanh Sai Gon, and Hai Phong. The Ho Chi Minh City Police’s swift action in detaining Manh sends a strong message about their comm...

On January 5, Vietnam clinched their third ASEAN Cup title with a thrilling 3-2 victory over Thailand at Bangkok’s Rajamangala Stadium. The match was an exhilarating display of footballing prowess and determination by both teams. Vietnamese players and coaching staff celebrate their third ASEAN Cup triumph. Photo: Ngoc Tu/The Hanoi Times Vietnam drew first blood in the 8th minute through a skillful finish by striker Pham Tuan Hai. Thailand, however, responded strongly with two goals from Ben Davis in the 28th minute and Supachok Sarachat in the 64th, turning the game around to lead 2-1. Controversy arose when Thailand’s second goal was scored after Vietnam had put the ball out of play to attend to an injured player, expecting a return of possession from their opponents. Striker Pham Tuan Hai (number 10) celebrates his opening goal. Photo: Ngoc Tu/The Hanoi Times The match took another turn in the 75th minute when Thai player Weerathep Pomphan received hi...

Thep Xanh Nam Dinh secured their spot in the knockout stage of the tournament with a dominant 3-0 win over Lee Man on Wednesday. With this victory, they have booked their place in the next round and currently sit at 11 points. It was a fast-paced start for the home team, who quickly overwhelmed their opponents. Despite a few missed chances early on, midfielder Lucas Silva broke the deadlock with a clinical finish from just outside the penalty area in the 12th minute. The hosts then settled into a comfortable rhythm and controlled the tempo of the game. Lee Man struggled to build meaningful attacks and couldn’t find a way past Thep Xanh Nam Dinh’s solid defense. In the 29th minute, confusion in Lee Man’s defense allowed Nguyen Van Vi to set up To Van Vu, who scored the second goal for the home team. Just before halftime, striker Nguyen Xuan Son converted a penalty, giving Thep Xanh Nam Dinh a comfortable 3-0 lead going into the break. A thrilling moment in the match between ...

In 2014, the VFF and JFA embarked on a journey of mutual growth and cultural exchange by signing their first cooperation agreement. This decade-long partnership has yielded significant fruits, with the JFA providing invaluable support to its Vietnamese counterpart. One of the key strengths of this collaboration has been the introduction of seasoned experts. Notable figures include Miura Toshiya, who led the U23 and national teams with prowess; Tanabe Kazuyoshi, the executive director of the V.League, brought invaluable insights to the table. Yusuke Adachi and Takeshi Koshida, as technical directors, left a lasting impact on the VFF, and Ijiri Akira’s guidance of the U19 and U20 women’s teams was exceptional. The JFA has also facilitated numerous training and competition opportunities for Vietnamese teams in Japan, fostering growth and exposure. Additionally, their initiatives to develop grassroots football in Vietnam have sown the seeds for a brighter future. Building on this strong...

The highly anticipated ‘sports trial of the century’ in British media has commenced, with a three-person commission meticulously examining volumes of evidence over an estimated 10-week period. The verdict, expected before the end of the current season, will conclude a lengthy process that began with referrals in February 2023, involving charges dating back to 2009. At the center of this trial is the renowned football club, City, boasting a remarkable record of four consecutive English title wins. The club has vehemently denied any wrongdoing, maintaining their innocence throughout the process. However, the potential consequences are significant. If found guilty on any of the charges, City could face a range of penalties, including hefty fines, points deductions, or even demotion from the Premier League. Such an outcome would cast a shadow over their recent successes, raising questions about the legitimacy of their achievements. Since 2008, when Sheikh Mansour’s Abu Dhabi United Grou...

Japan Cruise to Victory Over China in World Cup Qualifier Wataru Endo and Kaoru Mitoma gave Japan a comfortable lead in their Group C clash against China, setting the tone for a dominant performance. Endo opened the scoring in the 12th minute, capitalizing on a corner opportunity after Chinese goalkeeper Wang Dalei denied Ritsu Doan’s header moments earlier. The Liverpool midfielder, unmarked on the play, made no mistake with a clinical header off a well-placed ball from Takefusa Kubo. Japan continued to press and create chances. Doan came close to adding a second in the 33rd minute, and Hidemasa Morita hit the side-netting just before halftime. Kaoru Mitoma, just before the break, doubled the lead with a clever header, meeting Doan’s curling center and leaving Wang helpless. The second half saw Japan continue to assert their dominance. Takumi Minamino, set free by Mitoma’s pass, extended their lead in the 52nd minute with a beautiful strike that beat Wang. Minamino secured his brac...

The men’s football final of the Paris 2024 Olympics delivered a thrilling spectacle as Spain and France battled it out for the gold medal. The game ended in a 3-3 draw at the conclusion of normal time, requiring extra time to determine the champion. Spain ultimately emerged victorious, with Camello scoring two crucial goals in extra time to secure their first Olympic men’s football title since 1992. It was a game full of twists and turns. France took an early lead through Enzo Millot, who capitalized on a loose ball in the box and fired it into the top left corner. However, Spain quickly equalized through Fermin Lopez, who found the net with a first-time finish. Lopez then put Spain ahead with his second goal of the game, and Alex Baena extended their lead with a superb free-kick into the top left corner. Paris 2024 Olympics – A dramatic football final saw Spain and France battle it out for gold. Sergio Camello of Spain celebrates scoring their fifth and decisive goal, securing...