Hai Phong, 16 August, 2025 – Vietnam’s women’s national football team will face Thailand in the third-place playoff of the AFF Women’s Championship 2025, scheduled for 16:30 on August 19 at Lach Tray Stadium, Hai Phong. Following their narrow 1-2 defeat to Australia U23 in the semifinals, coach Mai Duc Chung emphasized the importance of maintaining strong spirit and effort as his players look to secure a bronze medal.
In the semifinal, Vietnam conceded two early goals in the first half to Aideen Keane (6’) and Leticia McKenna (17’), putting themselves under immediate pressure. Despite a resilient second-half performance, highlighted by a brilliant solo effort and goal from midfielder Bich Thuy in the 88th minute, Vietnam could not overcome the physical and tactical superiority of their opponents.
Thailand, meanwhile, suffered their own heartbreak earlier in the day, falling 1-2 to Myanmar in the first semifinal. The bronze medal match will therefore be a familiar regional rivalry, with both Vietnam and Thailand eager to end the tournament on a positive note.
Speaking after the semifinal loss, coach Mai Duc Chung reflected on the team’s performance while urging his players to lift themselves quickly for the next challenge. “I want to thank the fans across the country, especially those in Hai Phong. I have never seen the Vietnam women’s team receive such incredible support, particularly in the second half. In the first half, we did not perform well, but in the second half, the players improved and showed better efficiency. For the bronze medal match, the whole team must play with even more effort and keep their spirit stable,” he stated.
The 76-year-old coach also expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, who attended the match at Lach Tray Stadium to cheer on the team. According to Chung, the Prime Minister’s presence was a great source of inspiration and helped energize the players in the second half. “We sincerely thank the Prime Minister for coming to support us. But gratitude must be expressed through action — by showing even greater determination in the upcoming third-place match,” Chung reminded his squad.
Midfielder Bich Thuy, who was Vietnam’s standout player in the semifinal with her late solo goal, could not hide her emotions after the match. The 1994-born player broke down in tears as she spoke to the media. “I am very sad that we could not reach the final. The whole team did not play well, especially in the opening stages. However, we will recover our spirit and give everything to win the bronze medal,” she said.
Vietnam’s women’s team will now look to channel their fighting spirit and the passionate support of home fans into a strong performance against Thailand. The bronze medal clash promises to be another tense battle between two of Southeast Asia’s fiercest rivals, with pride and podium places on the line.
Hong Phuc
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