The Philippines coach gave advice to the Vietnamese women's national team before the match in Ho Chi Minh City.
Ahead of their AFC Women's Champions League opening match, Stallion Laguna coach Ernest Nierras said his team has 6-7 national team players and views the tournament as a warm-up for the 33rd SEA Games.
TPHCM I, led by striker Huỳnh Như, will open their AFC Women's Champions League campaign with a match against Stallion Laguna (Philippines). At the press conference, coach Ernest Nierras emphasized that this is an important test for his team to prepare for the SEA Games 33, while also frankly recalling the unfavorable results of the Philippine women's football team when facing the Vietnamese women's national team.
Ho Chi Minh City I sets high targets, aiming for 3 points on opening day.
After an impressive 2024/25 season where they reached the semi-finals, Ho Chi Minh City I has set higher goals for this year's campaign. The Vietnamese team aims to secure 3 points in their opening match, thereby building momentum for their journey in the Asian tournament.
Stallion Laguna and a message from coach Ernest Nierras
Stallion Laguna reached the group stage after a qualifying round with two wins and one loss. Speaking about their goals, coach Ernest Nierras (Stallion Laguna FC) said: "We recently participated in the qualifying rounds to get to this tournament. This tournament is very significant for Philippine women's football in terms of developing stronger in Asia in the future. Currently, our team has 6-7 players on the national team, so this tournament is an opportunity for our players to train for the upcoming SEA Games 33."
He also frankly reflected on past encounters: "Over the years, we have faced the Vietnamese women's national team many times and usually lost. Recently, with the AFC allowing naturalization of players, I hope the Philippine women's national team will have a fairer competition with opponents from the continent and the world. Specifically in this match, let's not forget that we are a Southeast Asian family, so the confrontation between countries in the region will help women's football in Southeast Asia develop more strongly."
Professional foundation: the core squad and the pace of the Asian tournament.
Having 6-7 national team players helps Stallion Laguna maintain cohesion, adapt to high-intensity matches, and meet advanced tactical demands. For Ho Chi Minh City I, their experience reaching the semi-finals last season is a clear advantage in terms of competitive spirit and match management.
- Stallion Laguna: 2 wins, 1 loss in the qualifying round.
- The Philippine team has 6-7 national team players on its roster.
- TPHCM I reached the semi-finals in the 2024/25 season and are aiming for 3 points in their opening match.
Opponent in the same group highly rated Ho Chi Minh City I
In the group of participating teams, Melbourne City coach Michael Matriciani commented: "Before the tournament, our analysis team did a thorough study of our opponents, including the host team, Ho Chi Minh City FC. In my opinion, they are a strong team and reached the semi-finals of last year's tournament. I am very much looking forward to our match against them. Our goal is to try our best in each game and reach the final."
Lion City Sailors coach Yeong Sheau Shyan spoke about the lessons learned: "This is our second time participating in the AFC Women's Champions League, but the first time we didn't know much about the tournament, so our preparation wasn't very good. However, this time everything is better prepared, especially with the addition of foreign players to strengthen the team."
Regional significance and expectations for the opening match.
Coach Ernest Nierras's message, "We are a Southeast Asian family," reflects the competitive spirit coupled with mutual support within the region. On the pitch, Ho Chi Minh City I entered the match with the clear objective of securing three points, while Stallion Laguna viewed it as a strategic stepping stone for the SEA Games 33. The difference lay in the experience of the Vietnamese representative in this competition, contrasting with the motivation of the Philippine team to prove themselves after the qualifying round.
That context promises a high-intensity opening match: one side carries the legacy of last season's semi-final, the other boasts 6-7 national team players and a desire to change the course of the game against familiar regional rivals, including the Vietnamese women's national team.
