Ho Chi Minh City, 5 Oct 2026 – Vietnam U17 women’s team head coach Okiyama Masahiko praised his players’ composure and ability to adapt after they opened their AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup 2027 qualifying campaign with an emphatic 6-0 victory over Palestine.
Vietnam made an impressive start to their Group D campaign with a six-goal victory over Palestine, although the hosts initially found it difficult to turn their dominance into goals. According to Okiyama, the players’ ability to remain patient was crucial, particularly after the match was interrupted for around 30 minutes by heavy rain.
“We started the match with determination, and our opponents also wanted to win. Vietnam U17 Women played proactively, but we were unable to score before the match was suspended because of the rain,” Okiyama said. “Even though we had not scored, the players remained calm and eventually found the goals. We scored six and did not concede. That was the result of the whole team’s effort.”
The lengthy weather delay ultimately gave Vietnam’s coaching staff an opportunity to reassess the match and make adjustments. Okiyama revealed that his staff had anticipated Palestine’s physical advantage before kick-off but believed their opponents could struggle to maintain the same intensity over the course of the game.
“We prepared carefully and expected our opponents to have a physical advantage but perhaps not be able to maintain their fitness,” the Japanese coach explained. “The turning point came after the rain. When we went into the dressing room, we discussed the situation and identified the areas we needed to improve. Once the rain stopped, the players were more settled and were able to carry out what the coaching staff had asked of them.”
Vietnam stepped up the pressure once play resumed and finally broke Palestine’s resistance before adding further goals as the match progressed. The hosts eventually completed a convincing 6-0 victory, securing all three points and making an ideal start to their bid for a place at the AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup 2027.
Despite the emphatic result, Okiyama quickly turned his attention to Vietnam’s next Group D fixture against Northern Mariana Islands. With only a short recovery period between matches, the coach indicated that squad management will be important as Vietnam look to maintain their winning momentum.
“The starting players will focus on their recovery so they can return to the pitch, while the substitutes must prepare themselves as well as possible so they are ready to play,” Okiyama said. “We have two days to prepare for the next match. We have watched Northern Mariana Islands U17 Women and will have a plan in place for the game.”
Vietnam will now look to build on their dominant opening victory as they continue their campaign with the ultimate objective of finishing top of Group D and securing qualification for the AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup 2027.
VSN/RPT
Leave a Reply