Striker Huynh Nhu scored a brace as Ho Chi Minh City FC defeated Taichung Blue Whale 3-1 in the opening match of Group C at the AFC Women’s Champions League 2024, on the evening of October 6.
After her stint in Portugal, Huynh Nhu rejoined Ho Chi Minh City FC on a short-term contract to participate in the AFC Women’s Champions League. The striker from Ben Tre quickly showed her knack for scoring, netting twice within minutes in the 65th and 67th minutes, helping her team secure a 3-1 victory over Taichung Blue Whale and significantly boosting their chances of advancing to the quarterfinals.
Ho Chi Minh City FC was bolstered by three foreign players, covering key positions across the pitch. Defender Barnett Talani Alexei paired with Chuong Thi Kieu in central defense, midfielder Root Medhan Callahan partnered with Bao Chau in midfield, and forward Ranya Senhaji lined up alongside Huynh Nhu in attack. With this setup, the Vietnamese side dominated the match. However, throughout the first half, Huynh Nhu and her teammates struggled to create any clear-cut scoring opportunities.
The second half saw Ho Chi Minh City FC increase their tempo and maintain consistent pressure. After several missed chances, forward Nguyen Thi Tuyet Ngan broke the deadlock in the 50th minute with a sharp finish from a tight angle. With the momentum on their side, the home team began to play more fluidly.
In the 65th minute, Huynh Nhu capitalized on a defensive lapse, heading the ball into an open net after receiving a well-placed cross, extending the lead to 2-0. Just two minutes later, the Vietnamese striker found herself one-on-one with the Taichung goalkeeper after a neat central combination play with Senhaji, and she coolly slotted the ball home to make it 3-0.
Despite controlling only 38% of possession, Taichung Blue Whale posed a threat with several dangerous counterattacks, managing 12 shots compared to 13 from the home team. They pulled one goal back in the 85th minute when midfielder Hoang Ke-sin volleyed home beautifully from inside the box.
Although Ho Chi Minh City FC won 3-1, they currently sit second in Group C, as Japan’s Urawa Reds thrashed Indian side Odisha 17-0 in the earlier match, securing top spot.
“This match was tough. Ho Chi Minh City played very fast, just as we anticipated,” Taichung head coach Lu Kuei-hua said after the game. “Huynh Nhu was excellent, demonstrating quality passing and impressive speed, especially on the flanks.”
However, coach Lu also expressed dissatisfaction with the officiating, pointing out that the referee only added three minutes of stoppage time despite an injury to one of his players. “AFC should review this, as it somewhat contributed to Ho Chi Minh City’s success today,” he added.
Ho Chi Minh City FC head coach Nguyen Hong Pham acknowledged that each match presents its own challenges and emphasized the importance of staying focused. “In the first half, the players were a bit too eager and didn’t control the ball well, leading to ineffective passes. But in the second half, we played much better and capitalized on our chances,” Pham said.
This edition of the AFC Women’s Champions League marks its inaugural season, with 12 teams divided into three groups for round-robin play. The top two teams from each group, along with the two best third-place finishers, will advance to the quarterfinals. In the knockout stages, the higher-seeded teams will host matches, with the semifinals and final being played at a neutral venue. The champions will receive a prize of one million USD, while the runners-up will earn 500,000 USD.
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