The Vietnamese women’s national team fought hard but couldn’t pull off an upset against the strong Chinese women’s team in the final match of the international friendly tournament held in Chongqing from October 23 to October 29. After a successful opening match where coach Mai Duc Chung’s squad defeated Uzbekistan 2-0, the Vietnamese team aimed to bring the same resilience against the formidable host nation.
Facing a much higher-ranked and technically skilled Chinese team, coach Mai Duc Chung fielded what was seen as his strongest lineup. However, with the advantage of playing at home and possessing a higher level of depth, the Chinese team controlled much of the match.
Vietnam held a solid defensive stance for most of the first half, repelling China’s continuous offensive efforts. Goalkeeper Tran Thi Kim Thanh had a standout performance, saving two shots within the first ten minutes. In the 18th minute, a dangerous moment arose when China’s Wang Yangwen broke through Vietnam’s defense, driving straight into the box. Her powerful shot from a tight angle went high, providing Vietnam with a momentary reprieve.
China’s persistence finally paid off in the 41st minute. Zhang Xin received a precise pass from her teammate, broke away, and took a clean shot into the far corner of the net. Although Kim Thanh managed to get a hand on the ball, it wasn’t enough to prevent the opening goal, putting China ahead 1-0 just before the break.
Vietnam came close to leveling the score in the 55th minute. Substitute Nguyen Thi Truc Huong launched a powerful long-range shot that narrowly missed, hitting the post and bouncing away. It was Vietnam’s best chance of the match and nearly stunned the home side with a potential equalizer.
In the remaining minutes, Vietnam created additional chances through quick counterattacks. Forward Ngan Thi Van Su struck a well-placed shot that was saved by China’s goalkeeper, maintaining China’s lead. Despite their possession and attacking plays, China failed to extend their lead during regular playtime.
In stoppage time, China secured their 2-0 victory under unfortunate circumstances for Vietnam. During a lofted cross into the box, Kim Thanh mishandled the ball, which then deflected off defender Thu Thao for an own goal in the 90+3 minute.
With this 0-2 result, Vietnam wraps up the tournament, reflecting on a commendable defensive effort against a top team, along with valuable experience gained. The Vietnamese team will now prepare for further international challenges, building on this outing to strengthen cohesion and resilience for upcoming tournaments.
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