Hai Phong, 12 August, 2025 – Head coach Mai Duc Chung neither showered praise nor voiced criticism after Vietnam edged Thailand 1-0 on August 12 to claim first place in Group A at the 2025 ASEAN Women’s Cup.
Entering the final round, both Vietnam and Thailand had six points, with the hosts sitting second due to an inferior goal difference (+13 compared to +14). This meant Vietnam needed nothing less than a victory to secure the top spot.
Playing at Lach Tray Stadium, Vietnam dominated against a youthful Thai side. The decisive moment came in the 36th minute when captain Huynh Nhu skillfully dribbled past a defender before delivering a low cross from the byline. Defender Tran Thi Thu Thao made a timely run into the box and volleyed across goal to score the match’s only goal.
Vietnam continued to create chances but were wasteful in front of goal, while some defensive lapses gave Thailand opportunities. However, unlike his more critical tone in the previous two matches, coach Chung expressed measured satisfaction. “Today, I have nothing to criticize the players for. I only reminded them about a few individual decisions that could have been better,” he said in the post-match press conference.
The veteran coach also addressed Huynh Nhu’s goal drought in the tournament. Despite being the national team’s all-time leading scorer, she has yet to find the net at the 2025 ASEAN Women’s Cup. “I deployed Huynh Nhu deeper, allowing Bich Thuy, with her pace and strength, to play as the central striker,” Chung explained. “Even though she’s no longer young, Nhu’s experience and creativity are invaluable.”
Vietnam’s defense held firm, denying Thailand the same attacking success they enjoyed against Cambodia and Indonesia. Still, the squad is not at full strength due to injuries. Midfielder Duong Thi Van has been ruled out for the rest of the tournament with a knee ligament injury, Nguyen Thi Thanh Nha is still recovering from a similar issue, and Ngan Thi Van Su is nursing a thigh strain.
Thailand’s Japanese head coach Futoshi Ikeda acknowledged Vietnam’s quality. “Vietnam is one of the strongest teams at the moment. This defeat has given us valuable lessons. Their wing play is dangerous, and they are always searching for space. I hope we meet them again in the final,” he said.
In the semifinals, Vietnam will face the runner-up of Group B, while Thailand will play the group winner. Results will be determined after the final Group B matches on August 13.
Myanmar currently leads the group with six points, followed by the Philippines and U23 Australia with three each. In the last round, the Philippines will meet Myanmar, while Australia will face Timor Leste. If both the Philippines and Australia win, the group will see a three-way tie, with tiebreakers decided by head-to-head results, overall goal difference, goals scored, and fair-play points.
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