Huynh Nhu scored, Ho Chi Minh City women's club beat Vietnam national team 2-1.
The opening goal from Huỳnh Như's pressing and Lê Hoài Lương's long-range shot decided the second leg of the friendly match in Hanoi; Coach Mai Đức Chung gained more data before the training camp in Japan starting on November 20th.
Huynh Nhu scored the opening goal, giving Ho Chi Minh City Women's Club a 2-1 victory over the Vietnam Women's National Team in a friendly match on the afternoon of November 4th at the Vietnam Youth Football Training Center (Hanoi). The result allowed the Ho Chi Minh City team to avenge their 2-3 defeat in the first leg, while also providing valuable professional data for both coaching staffs.
Highlights: high-pressure pressing and moments of leadership.
From the start of the match, Ho Chi Minh City Women's Club proactively implemented high-pressure pressing, putting pressure on the Vietnamese national team's defense. Taking advantage of an opponent's mistake, Huynh Nhu quickly seized the ball and finished accurately to open the scoring. This goal demonstrated the consistent form and leadership role of the Vietnamese national team captain at both club and national team levels.
Key events: Thanh Nhã equalized, Hoài Lương sealed the 2-1 victory.
After conceding a goal, the Vietnamese women's team pushed forward in search of an equalizer. Their efforts paid off when Nguyen Thi Thanh Nha scored from inside the penalty area, leveling the score at 1-1. However, Ho Chi Minh City Women's Club maintained a solid defense and capitalized on opportunities in the second half: defender Le Hoai Luong unleashed a beautiful long-range shot, securing a 2-1 victory.
Tactical analysis: applying pressure, closing down spaces, waiting for the right opportunity.
The high-pressure pressing tactics employed by the Ho Chi Minh City women's team were key to changing the tempo from the start, forcing the opposing defense to react under intense pressure. After conceding the equalizer, the city team maintained their formation, reducing risk in the final half and choosing opportune moments to unleash long-range shots. Le Hoai Luong's shot was proof of their proactive approach to finishing the game when there wasn't much space left in the penalty area.
The coaching staff's professional perspective
The defeat provided valuable data for coach Mai Duc Chung to assess the team's strength. He commented: "There are players who have been called up to the national team 4-5 times but are still in the process of adapting. Hopefully, through the next training camp, they will improve as they train with the senior players." He also hoped that the group of seven players from Ho Chi Minh City FC I, after participating in the AFC Champions League, would quickly integrate and create overall strength for the national team heading towards the SEA Games 33.
Upcoming plans: training in Japan and the goal of the 33rd SEA Games.
According to the plan, the Vietnamese women's national team will travel to Japan for training starting on November 20th, playing five friendly matches to finalize their squad, aiming to defend their gold medal at the 33rd SEA Games. Before departing, the team will have three more practice matches against the Ho Chi Minh City women's club and two amateur teams from Bac Ninh and Son Tay during their final two weeks of training at the Vietnam Youth Football Training Center.
Ho Chi Minh City Women's Club and the continental arena.
Conversely, coach Doan Thi Kim Chi and her team are actively preparing for the group stage of the 2025/26 AFC Women's Club Championship, which will take place from November 13th to 19th at Thong Nhat Stadium. Key players such as Huynh Nhu, Chuong Thi Kieu, and Quach Thu Em will return to the national team after completing their duties at the continental tournament.
Impact and significance
- The friendly match demonstrated the effectiveness of high-pressure pressing from the Ho Chi Minh City women's club and highlighted the need for the national team's defense to adapt and handle such pressure.
- Individual moments (Huỳnh Như, Lê Hoài Lương) decided the outcome, while Thanh Nhã's counter-attacking and finishing ability provided a bright spot for the Vietnamese team.
- This is an important test before the international training camp and the goal of defending the title at the 33rd SEA Games.
