The situation of Vietnam football in 2013 was that of a "colourfulpicture". Home fans were happy with the success of the national U-19men’s football team, but also felt disappointed at the failure of thenational team at the 2015 Asian Cup qualification and the U-23 squad’spoor performance at the 27th Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games). Reviewby thethaovietnam.vn.
1. U-19 Vietnam impress with stunning emergence
The national U-19 men’s football team, with most of its players comingfrom the Hoang Anh Gia Lai Arsenal JMG Academy, made a stunningappearance at the 2013 AFF U-19 Youth Championship, winning all theirmatches and only losing in the finals to Indonesia in a tense penaltyshoot-out.
The team caused great surprise bydemolishing Australia 5-1 in their last Group F qualifying match atKuala Lumpur Stadium in Malaysia on October 7, to storm into the finalsof the 2014 AFC U-19 Championship as group leaders.
2. Vietnam women on the brink of securing 2015 World Cup berth
The national women’s football team have fulfilled their 2013 target ofmaking it through to the 2014 Asian Cup finals following theirtable-topping finish at the Group C qualification tournament held inBahrain last May.
The team, led by Chinese managerChen Yun Fat, earned nine points and scored 24 goals in their threeconsecutive group wins over Bahrain (8-0), Kyrgyzstan (12-0) and HongKong (4-0).
The final stage of the 2014 Asian Cup isscheduled to take place at Thong Nhat Stadium in Ho Chi Minh City fromMay 14-25. Vietnam is placed in Group A along with Japan, Australia andJordan. At the tournament, Vietnam has set a target of ranking third inthe group-stage competition and winning the play-off to qualify for theWorld Cup.
3. Arsenal FC visit Vietnam on their Asia Tour 2013
2013 marked a milestone for Vietnamese football as the countrywelcomed a world-famous football club, England’s Arsenal FC, for thefirst time in its history. The event drew huge attention, both frommedia and local fans.
In a friendly with the Vietnamnational football team, Arsenal displayed their world-class talent bybeating the hosts with a final score of 7-1.
4. Vietnam gives poor performance at 2015 Asian Cup qualifiers
The year can be considered a forgettable period for Vietnamesefootball, as the men’s national football team displayed a disappointingperformance at the 2015 Asian Cup qualifiers, losing all four matches.The team scored only twice and conceded 14 goals.
5. U-23 Vietnam go out early at 27th SEA Games
The 27th SEA Games in Myanmar witnessed the comprehensive failure ofthe national U-23 men’s football team as they bid farewell to theirfootball campaign in the group-stage competition.
The team placed third in the Group A standings with six points,following wins over Brunei and Laos and losses to Singapore andMalaysia, failing to make the semifinal round.
6. V-League immersed in the "crisis storm"
The country’s top-tier league V-League faced a huge crisis in 2013, asfor the first time in the last six years, it included fewer than 14teams (just 12 teams). Despite avoiding relegation, some clubs such asHanoi FC, Khatoco Khanh Hoa and Navibank Saigon, did not register forthe League or were dissolved due to the financial burden.
Vicem Hai Phong, the relegated team in the 2012 season, purchasedKhatoco Khanh Hoa’s 2013 V-League slot with the new name of XM Vicem HaiPhong.
7. XM Xuan Thanh Saigon withdraw from V-League 2013
XM Xuan Thanh Saigon surprisingly submitted their request to drop outof the 2013 V-League as the tournament had just two rounds left to play.The team’s withdrawal was made right after the Vietnam FootballFederation had decided to dock them four points, saying that the teamviolated the regulations of Vietnam football.
As aresult of their withdrawal, the Saigon team have been relegated to playin the Third Division Football Tournament next season.
8. Hanoi T&T crowned V-League champions
The capital’s football club took this year’s V-League title with oneround left to play following their convincing performance earning 11wins, five draws and four losses. As the V-League champions, HanoiT&T will represent Vietnam to compete in the qualifying play-offnext February against India’s Pune F.C for the 2014 AFC ChampionLeague.-VNA
1. U-19 Vietnam impress with stunning emergence
The national U-19 men’s football team, with most of its players comingfrom the Hoang Anh Gia Lai Arsenal JMG Academy, made a stunningappearance at the 2013 AFF U-19 Youth Championship, winning all theirmatches and only losing in the finals to Indonesia in a tense penaltyshoot-out.
The team caused great surprise bydemolishing Australia 5-1 in their last Group F qualifying match atKuala Lumpur Stadium in Malaysia on October 7, to storm into the finalsof the 2014 AFC U-19 Championship as group leaders.
2. Vietnam women on the brink of securing 2015 World Cup berth
The national women’s football team have fulfilled their 2013 target ofmaking it through to the 2014 Asian Cup finals following theirtable-topping finish at the Group C qualification tournament held inBahrain last May.
The team, led by Chinese managerChen Yun Fat, earned nine points and scored 24 goals in their threeconsecutive group wins over Bahrain (8-0), Kyrgyzstan (12-0) and HongKong (4-0).
The final stage of the 2014 Asian Cup isscheduled to take place at Thong Nhat Stadium in Ho Chi Minh City fromMay 14-25. Vietnam is placed in Group A along with Japan, Australia andJordan. At the tournament, Vietnam has set a target of ranking third inthe group-stage competition and winning the play-off to qualify for theWorld Cup.
3. Arsenal FC visit Vietnam on their Asia Tour 2013
2013 marked a milestone for Vietnamese football as the countrywelcomed a world-famous football club, England’s Arsenal FC, for thefirst time in its history. The event drew huge attention, both frommedia and local fans.
In a friendly with the Vietnamnational football team, Arsenal displayed their world-class talent bybeating the hosts with a final score of 7-1.
4. Vietnam gives poor performance at 2015 Asian Cup qualifiers
The year can be considered a forgettable period for Vietnamesefootball, as the men’s national football team displayed a disappointingperformance at the 2015 Asian Cup qualifiers, losing all four matches.The team scored only twice and conceded 14 goals.
5. U-23 Vietnam go out early at 27th SEA Games
The 27th SEA Games in Myanmar witnessed the comprehensive failure ofthe national U-23 men’s football team as they bid farewell to theirfootball campaign in the group-stage competition.
The team placed third in the Group A standings with six points,following wins over Brunei and Laos and losses to Singapore andMalaysia, failing to make the semifinal round.
6. V-League immersed in the "crisis storm"
The country’s top-tier league V-League faced a huge crisis in 2013, asfor the first time in the last six years, it included fewer than 14teams (just 12 teams). Despite avoiding relegation, some clubs such asHanoi FC, Khatoco Khanh Hoa and Navibank Saigon, did not register forthe League or were dissolved due to the financial burden.
Vicem Hai Phong, the relegated team in the 2012 season, purchasedKhatoco Khanh Hoa’s 2013 V-League slot with the new name of XM Vicem HaiPhong.
7. XM Xuan Thanh Saigon withdraw from V-League 2013
XM Xuan Thanh Saigon surprisingly submitted their request to drop outof the 2013 V-League as the tournament had just two rounds left to play.The team’s withdrawal was made right after the Vietnam FootballFederation had decided to dock them four points, saying that the teamviolated the regulations of Vietnam football.
As aresult of their withdrawal, the Saigon team have been relegated to playin the Third Division Football Tournament next season.
8. Hanoi T&T crowned V-League champions
The capital’s football club took this year’s V-League title with oneround left to play following their convincing performance earning 11wins, five draws and four losses. As the V-League champions, HanoiT&T will represent Vietnam to compete in the qualifying play-offnext February against India’s Pune F.C for the 2014 AFC ChampionLeague.-VNA
