National Futsal Championship 2020 opens

The 2020 National Futsal Championship officially kick-started on June 14 in the central province of Khanh Hoa with the participation of 10 teams.

The annual tournament, the second sporting event to be resume activities in Vietnam after months of disruption due to COVID-19, is divided into two stages.

Sanatech Khanh Hoa are held to a 1-1 draw with Da Nang. (Photo: VNA)

The first stage (qualification) took place from June 1-9 in Nha Trang City and featured competition among six teams. The four teams of Quang Nam, Cao Bang, Vietfootball, and Sanna Khanh Hoa progressed to the second stage.

Stage 2 brings together 10 teams, including the top six finishers of the 2019 season and the four best teams from the first stage, who will play in a two-legged round robin tournament to decide the overall champions. The first leg is scheduled from June 14 to July 5 in Nha Trang, and the second will be held between September 5 and 26 in Ho Chi Minh City.

Two first matches took place after the opening ceremony. Sanatech Khanh Hoa were held to a 1-1 draw with Da Nang while the match between Quang Nang and Cao Bang had the same score.

The title winners will receive the trophy and a prize of VND500 million (US$21,524) and will represent Vietnam in the 2020 AFC Futsal Club Championships, while the runners-up will be awarded VND200 million and will also compete in the 2020 AFF Futsal Club Championships. The third-placed team will take a cash prize of VND100 million.

In addition, the organising committee will present the fair-play prize worth VND40 million, and three VND15 million packages to the most valuable player, the top scorer and the best goalkeeper of the tournament.

Source: NDO