Hanoi, May 16, 2025 – Vietnam’s women’s national team suffered a 1–4 defeat at the hands of Germany’s Werder Bremen Women in an international friendly at Hang Day Stadium on the evening of May 16. This match formed part of the celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the Federal Republic of Germany, offering a rare chance for Coach Mai Duc Chung’s side to test themselves against high-caliber European opposition on home soil.
Werder Bremen, who finished seventh in the 12-team Frauen-Bundesliga during the 2024–2025 season, fielded a physically imposing lineup. Their spearhead was Larissa Mühlhaus, born in 2003 and standing 1.79 m tall, who claimed the Bundesliga’s top-scorer title for two consecutive seasons through 2023. Sitting just behind her in midfield was Juliane Wirtz—sister of Bayer Leverkusen’s rising star Florian Wirtz—whose vision and passing dictated the German side’s tempo.
Vietnam adopted a compact, disciplined defensive shape to counter Bremen’s height and strength advantage. Central midfielders Duong Thi Van (in red, center), Nguyen Thi Van, and Thai Thi Thao found themselves under constant pressure in aerial duels and physical battles. Despite the visitors’ domination of possession and relentless probing, Vietnam’s rearguard held firm during the opening exchanges.
The deadlock was broken in the 16th minute. Bremen played a long ball down their right channel, allowing Maja Sternad to burst past a defender and deliver a low cross. Ricarda Walkling met the ball on the volley, spinning it into the far corner to hand Bremen a 1–0 lead. Vietnam’s defensive shape remained composed, but a lack of cohesion—stemming from just ten days of group training—hampered their ability to connect passes and launch effective counters.
Five minutes into the second half, Bremen doubled their advantage. A central-channel combination freed Sophie Weidauer in the box for a driven strike that overwhelmed goalkeeper Tran Thi Kim Thanh. Larissa Mühlhaus then followed up to convert the rebound, making it 2–0. Vietnam responded with determination; in the 57th minute, Nguyen Thi Van unleashed a sweet volley from a right-side corner, narrowly missing a goalmouth scramble that teammate Pham Hai Yen could not convert with the net at her feet.
Vietnam’s persistence paid off in the 64th minute. A wayward back-pass from Bremen’s defense was seized by 19-year-old striker Ngoc Minh Chuyen—voted Vietnam’s Young Female Footballer of the Year in 2023. Despite her diminutive stature, Chuyen used her lightning pace to break into the box and coolly slot a low, angled shot past the goalkeeper, earning Vietnam a memorable first goal in her national team debut.
However, Bremen regained control in the final quarter. In the 81st minute, Bremen earned a direct free-kick 20 m from goal. Rather than curl it over the wall, Larissa Mühlhaus struck a low, dipping effort that caught Khong Thi Hang off-guard and rebounded into the net. The match was sealed in the fourth minute of stoppage time when Hungary’s Emöke Papai broke the offside trap, guided a long pass under pressure, and calmly chipped the onrushing keeper to make it 4–1.
Post-match, Bremen coach Thomas Horsch praised his team’s adaptability: “We faced challenges in the first 15 minutes but then imposed our game. The players gave their all to secure the victory.” For Coach Mai Duc Chung, the match highlighted areas for growth: “Our players worked hard but lacked endurance and sharp passing. With more time together, as in our 1–2 loss to Germany in 2023, we will improve.”
Vietnam will regroup ahead of a training camp in Japan from June 8 to 18. Although key players from TP HCM FC were unavailable due to the AFC Women’s Champions League semifinal, this friendly offered invaluable exposure for both veterans and emerging talents on the path to strengthening Vietnam’s women’s football for future competitions.
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