HN-Ams team finished the group stage in 2nd spot with 4 points from 1 win, 1 draw and 1 lost. In the second round and the quarter final they beat Thang Long and Tran Nhan Tong with the score line of 2-0 and 3-0 respectively. They got into the final against Hai Ba Trung High School with the great ambition and winning spirit after a tight 1-0 win over Tran Quoc Tuan High School in the semi.

The final was taken place in Hang Day Stadium o­n 12/11/2005. Their convincing wins in the last stages showed HN-Ams team's firmly step into the last match while Hai Ba Trung was o­nly in after the penalties against Yen Hoa High School. Unsurprisingly, our team had dominated the first half with dozen of clear chances but with o­nly o­ne of them finished with the ball in the net, as striker Nguyen Duc Minh (L2 04-07) has scored after a counter attack. However, fortune soon changed after the break as Hai Ba Trung coaching staff had made some very smart tactical changes. They soon equalized after the half time whistle with a goal from tight angle. o­n this occasion, HN-Ams team's goalkeeper Dao Chi Nhan (Dia 04-07) was out of position as he failed to close-down the angle. As the match went o­n it seemed the game would step into penalty shoot-out, but heart-break came 5 minutes before time when the decider came after a scramble in front of HN-Ams’ goal. Communication between the goalkeeper and the defenders was lost as Hai Ba Trung’s striker took his chance and sneaked the ball into an empty net. The goal had silenced all HN-Ams’ supporters and although HN-Ams did took control in the last few minutes and had attack desperately, they could not force their way in under a well organized Hai Ba Trung’s defense. The match finished 2-1 to Hai Ba Trung as they crowned champions for the first time.

After the match, the school’s principle went down to the pitch to praise the players and all AMS’ supporters who attended the match also stood up and gave the team the warmest, loudest applause. Although it had not ended in perfect fashion, the team’s runners-up spot was a deserving prize for the players after all the hard work over the last 2 months. Individually, AMS’ striker Nguyen Duc Minh became the tournament’s top scorer with 7 goals, as himself and play-maker Ha Hai Nam (Tin 04-07) was named in the tournament’s Best Seven. The team received the silver medals and award, prize money for runners-up.

As Ha Noi – Amsterdam High School will be celebrating its 20th anniversary next month, this latest achievement is meaningful than ever.

Reported by Nguyen Dang Trung CE 04-07
Edited by Dang Van Ha A3 99-02
Posted by Le Huy Hoang L2 00-03