HANOI, Dec 21 — Xuan Mai High School claimed their first-ever title at the 2025 Hanoi High School Football Championship after a nerve-shredding penalty shootout victory over Tay Ho High School in the final.
The championship match, held on the morning of December 21 at Xuan Dinh Stadium, brought the 24th edition of the annual tournament—organized by An Ninh Thu Do (Capital Security) Newspaper —to a close. The event drew senior representatives from Vietnam’s public security sector, education authorities, sports bodies, and corporate sponsors, underscoring the competition’s growing prominence within the capital’s school sports calendar.
Around 3,000 spectators—teachers, students, and supporters from competing schools—filled the stands, creating a vibrant and emotionally charged atmosphere for both the third-place playoff and the final.
A Tournament of Emotion and Growth
Speaking ahead of the final, Lieutenant Colonel Chu Quoc Dung, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of An Ninh Thu Do Newspaper and a member of the organizing committee, described the 2025 season as a journey rich in emotion and meaning.
Over the course of the tournament, 125 teams contested 247 matches, producing a total of 532 goals—an average of 2.2 goals per game. Matches unfolded under clear skies and light rain alike, capturing a full spectrum of sporting experience: the elation of scoring, the heartbreak of defeat, and the resilience forged in competition.
“In my view, all 125 teams are winners,” Dung said. “They have overcome inertia to train, set aside individual ego to play as a team, and conquered their fear of failure to stand firm in a demanding arena.”
He added that, over nearly a quarter-century, the tournament has served as more than a sporting event—functioning as a sustained social initiative aimed at steering young people away from social ills and fostering a safe, healthy, and constructive environment in the capital.
Dung also paid tribute to parents, teachers, and school leaders—whom he described as “carriers of dreams”—for their role in supporting students and contributing to the tournament’s success.
A Final Decided on Nerve
The final unfolded in a tense and dramatic fashion (Photo: Thuần Thư).
On the pitch, the final between Xuan Mai and Tay Ho unfolded as a tense and closely contested affair. Neither side was able to break the deadlock during regulation time, with both teams locked at 0–0 after 50 minutes.
The stalemate forced the match into a decisive penalty shootout.
It was there that Xuan Mai held their nerve. Converting with composure under intense pressure, they secured a 3–1 victory in the shootout, sparking scenes of jubilation among players and supporters alike. The triumph marked a historic breakthrough for the school after many previous appearances in the competition.
Overwhelming emotions from Xuan Mai High School fans
A Sense of Pride in Trying
Despite falling short in the final, Tay Ho High School can take pride in a campaign defined by discipline and determination, earning them a well-deserved silver medal.
Earlier, Pham Van Dong High School secured third place after defeating Marie Curie My Dinh High School in another penalty shootout, prevailing 2–0 from the spot.
More than just a sporting contest, the 2025 tournament once again highlighted the enduring role of school football in Hanoi—not only as a platform for competition, but as a vehicle for character, community, and aspiration.
