Hà Nội T&T overcame Quang Nam 4-3 at the Hang Day Stadium to record a 7-5 aggregate win and a second successive National Cup Final appearance. T&T seemed to be cruising to the final after racing to a 2-0 lead with goals from Văn Thành & Văn Quyết giving them a 5-2 aggregate lead. Quang Nam, now boasting the prolific new Brazilian striker, Claudecir, hit back. The T&T defence struggled with the Brazilians strength and power as he scored twice. Since his June move to Quang Nam the Brazilian has scored 9 goals in his last 8 games.

Hanoi hit back and Văn Quyết closed an entertaining first half with a superb lob from the edge of the box. The second half saw the introduction of Quang Nam’s second recent signing, Sadio Diao and T&T striker Samson. The pace of the first half had faded and Hanoi wrapped up the tie when Samson headed home from close range with 20 minutes remaining. There was still time for one more, and possibly the pick of the goals, when Đinh Thanh Trung cut inside from the right and unleashed an unstoppable strike into the top corner of  Nguyễn Văn Công’s goals.

Their opponents will be Than Quảng Ninh, who went through on away goals after a 0-0 draw at home to Becamex Bình Dương. The team drew 1-1 in the first leg and Rod Dyanchenko’s equaliser was enough to seal a first Cup Final appearance for the inform team from the northeast.

The final intriguingly pits Quảng Ninh coach, Phan Thanh Hùng, against his former club. Just a week before the start of the season the coach suddenly departed his position at T&T due to ‘health reasons’ but was soon at the helm of the Quảng Ninh. Both teams are still in the hunt for the League title and the potential of a league and cup double is on the table.

The 1^st leg of the final will be played in Cẩm Phả stadium on Saturday 24^th September, with the 2^nd leg at Hàng Đẫy stadium in the capital on Thursday 29^th September.