Ho Chi Minh City women's club advances to Champions League quarter-finals, receives 300 million VND prize.

Two consecutive wins and two clean sheets have propelled the Ho Chi Minh City women's club into the quarterfinals of the AFC Women's Champions League 2025/26. On November 17, 2025, the Vietnam Football Federation sent a congratulatory letter, and President Tran Quoc Tuan decided to award the team 300 million VND to encourage them.

Two wins and an early ticket to the next round.

The Vietnamese champions had a perfect start to their group: defeating Stallion Laguna (Philippines) 1-0, followed by a 2-0 victory over Lion City Sailors (Singapore). With a perfect 6 points after two matches, the Ho Chi Minh City women's club has already secured a place in the top eight, even though they still have a match against Melbourne City (Australia).

This is the second consecutive season that the Ho Chi Minh City women's club has reached the quarterfinals of the continent's top tournament, reflecting the team's serious preparation and consistent competitive spirit.

Tactical perspective: early advantage, late finishing blow.

Against Lion City Sailors, Huỳnh Như and her teammates quickly dominated the game but only accelerated in the final moments to score two goals. The tactical picture was one of patience: maintaining team formation, controlling space, and then accelerating at the right moment to convert pressure into goals.

The highlight throughout both matches was the team's ability to keep a clean sheet. Two consecutive clean sheets – with a total of 3 goals scored and 0 goals conceded – showed an effective defensive structure, creating a foundation for the attack to decide the game at the right time.

Key developments and selected data

• Stallion Laguna 0-1 Ho Chi Minh City Women's Club: A solid start, a minimal result.
• Lion City Sailors 0-2 Ho Chi Minh City Women's Club: Dominating the game, two goals scored at the end of the match.
• Melbourne City 7-0 Stallion Laguna: The Australian representatives secured their qualification early and are temporarily leading the group thanks to a better goal difference.

After two matches: Ho Chi Minh City Women's Club has 6 points (goal difference +3), Melbourne City also has 6 points and is temporarily ranked higher due to goal difference. The final match between the two teams will decide the top spot in the group.

Impact and motivation

Reaching the quarterfinals early gives the Ho Chi Minh City women's club more time to adjust for the match to determine the top of the group. At the same time, the decision to award 300 million VND from Chairman Tran Quoc Tuan on behalf of the Executive Committee and Standing Committee of the VFF is a significant source of motivation for the team.

Melbourne City is ahead.

With both teams having already qualified, the remaining match is crucial for determining the group standings. Ho Chi Minh City Women's Club enters the game with a solid defensive foundation and confidence after a winning streak, while Melbourne City showcases its attacking prowess. A balanced strategy and composure in decisive moments will be key for the Vietnamese representatives to maximize their advantage.

The results have come to pass.