Ho Chi Minh, 18 June, 2025 – for the fourth time in their history, Vietnam’s U19 women’s national team reached the final of the AFF U19 Women’s Championship, only to fall short once more. This time, they suffered a 1-3 defeat to arch-rivals Thailand in the final played at Thong Nhat Stadium on the evening of June 18.
Both teams entered the match with their strongest squads. Vietnam welcomed the return of midfielder Thao Nguyen, while Thailand made no changes from their semi-final victory over Myanmar. Thailand started brightly, using a fast-paced attacking approach and dominating midfield possession early on.
Deploying a dense midfield setup, Thailand quickly took control of the game, forcing Vietnam into a defensive posture. The opening goal came in the 27th minute when Vietnam’s defense made a critical mistake, allowing Thai captain Riyaphat to capitalize and score. Despite Vietnam’s efforts to push forward, their attacks lacked the creativity to break down Thailand’s well-organized backline. In the 34th minute, the woodwork came to Vietnam’s rescue, preventing a second goal.
Coach Masahiko Okiyama made adjustments at halftime, introducing Thuy Nga for Hong Hue to stabilize the midfield. The change paid off when Vietnam equalized 1-1 in the 50th minute through a penalty converted by Hoang Van. Energized by the goal, Vietnam began to press higher up the pitch, turning the match into a thrilling end-to-end battle.
However, Thailand regained the lead in the 61st minute, also from the penalty spot, with Kurisara calmly slotting it home. Just eight minutes later, Chatpharaphorn made it 3-1 with a clinical finish, further complicating Vietnam’s comeback hopes.
Despite being two goals down, Vietnam showed determination and pushed forward relentlessly. In the 75th minute, Hong Minh nearly pulled one back with a powerful free-kick that smashed against the crossbar. Unfortunately, luck was not on their side, and the match ended 3-1 in Thailand’s favor.
This marks the fourth final loss for Vietnam in the U19 AFF Women’s Championship, including three defeats to Thailand and one to Australia in previous editions. The wait for their first title in this competition continues.
Meanwhile, in the third-place playoff, U19 Indonesia stunned Myanmar, winning 6-5 on penalties after a goalless draw in regular time. The dramatic win gave the Indonesian side a historic bronze medal finish in the tournament.
Vietnam’s U19 women may have come up short once again, but their spirited performances throughout the tournament remain a testament to the team’s growing potential. With continued investment in youth development, their breakthrough moment on the regional stage may not be far away.
Kim Chi
Leave a Reply