Hohhot, May 3, 2025 – Vietnam’s women’s futsal team fought back to a 2-2 draw against China in a friendly at Hohhot Sports Centre on May 3, before falling 4-3 in a penalty shootout, fine-tuning their strategy for the 2025 AFC Women’s Futsal Asian Cup (May 7-18). Coach Nguyen Dinh Hoang hailed the match as a critical learning opportunity ahead of their Group B clash with Hong Kong (China).
Jet-lagged from a May 1 flight via Guangzhou, Vietnam started sluggishly, with K’ Thua’s 7th-minute rocket striking the crossbar as their only first-half highlight, per VFF reports. China, ranked 9th globally, pressed high, but Vietnam’s goalkeeper Nguyen Phuong Anh, echoing Hanoi Police FC’s Nguyen Filip, kept a clean sheet until halftime, supported by captain Trinh Nguyen Thanh Hang’s blocks, akin to The Cong Viettel’s defensive grit.
The second half exploded with pace. China surged ahead in the 26th minute through a scrappy goal, doubling their lead in the 27th minute by exploiting Vietnam’s high line. Trailing 2-0, Vietnam shifted to a power-play, with Bien Thi Hang linking with Thanh Hang for a pinpoint 31st-minute strike, cutting the deficit to 2-1. Nguyen Thu Xuan, a Ho Chi Minh City FC prospect, then threaded a pass for Pho Ngoc Thanh Thy to slot home a 33rd-minute equalizer, showcasing Song Lam Nghe An-like youth flair.
After 40 minutes, the 2-2 deadlock led to a shootout, where China prevailed 4-3, with Phuong Anh saving one but Thanh Hang and Bien Thi Hang missing, per match stats. Hoang commended the team’s resolve: “Travel fatigue slowed our start, costing us early goals, but the second half’s intensity was promising.” The 2,000-strong Hohhot crowd saw Vietnam’s 4-2 pivot tested, revealing adaptation needs, per VietnamPlus.
Hoang’s staff will dissect the match on May 4, focusing on quicker transitions and tighter marking, drawing on Hoang Anh Gia Lai’s training models, to counter Hong Kong’s pace in their May 7 opener. Vietnam, ranked 11th, targets a top-two finish in Group B (Iran, Hong Kong, Philippines) or a best third-placed spot for the quarterfinals, chasing one of three 2025 FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup berths in the Philippines. With Bien Thi Hang’s six ASEAN Cup goals and Thu Xuan’s Hanoi FC Youth roots, Vietnam aims to surpass their 2018 bronze and secure a historic World Cup debut, rivaling Nam Dinh FC’s V.League ascent.
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