Huynh Nhu shines with teammates to score a hat-trick of SEA Games gold

19 years after the Vietnam-Myanmar women's football final at the 22nd SEA Games in 2003 at Lach Tray Stadium (Hai Phong) won the gold medal, Mr. Mai Duc Chung had another chance to play in a SEA Games women's football final held at home, the Vietnam women's team faced the Thailand women's team at Cam Pha Stadium (Quang Ninh).

The history of the most recent matches is temporarily leaning towards the Vietnamese women's team (3 wins, 1 draw, 1 loss) against their Thai counterparts. At the 2022 Asian Women's Football Finals, towards the 2023 World Cup, while Vietnam and surprisingly the Philippines entered the prestigious World Cup Finals, Thailand still had to compete in the inter-regional play-off, mainly due to the Covid-19 pandemic. But the reality shows that the Thai women's team brought a formidable squad to the 31st SEA Games, played well in the group stage matches and beat the Philippines 3-0 in the semi-final, ready to challenge the throne held by the Vietnamese women's team through the 29th and 30th SEA Games in a row. Meanwhile, the Vietnamese women's team played solidly in each match, beating the Philippines 2-1 in the group stage, passing the semi-final against tough opponent Myanmar with a close score of 1-0 and having absolutely nothing to fear from Thailand in the final.

Huynh Nhu's shot scored the only goal in the final match. Photo: VNE

The starting lineup of the Vietnamese women's team did not change much compared to the semi-final match, with the strongest force available, playing in a 5-4-1 formation, with captain Huynh Nhu playing highest up the attack line, Nguyen Thi Van playing from the start instead of striker Hai Yen. Continuously, the Vietnamese women's team's attacking situations were created, mainly on the right wing with Bich Thuy rising to cross the ball or pass the ball high for Nguyen Thi Van or Huyen Nhu to finish but without success.

Meanwhile, the Thai women's team mainly played defensive-counterattacking, passing long balls to striker Dangda, who has 4 goals since the beginning of the tournament, with good speed in the attack to take advantage of this star's tricky finishing ability, but the Vietnamese women's team's defense led by Chuong Thi Kieu still ensured the team's distance and tight coverage, goalkeeper Kim Thanh played solidly in all situations.

In the second half, the Thai women's team raised their formation to attack more diversely to find opportunities to take the lead. Coach Mai Duc Chung immediately replaced Nguyen Thi Van with Nguyen Hai Yen and maintained a tight defense and quick counterattack. In the 60th minute, from the middle of the field, midfielder Duong Thi Van suddenly sent a pass between the two Thai defenders, causing them to fumble and let the ball bounce down following Huyen Nhu's run. This striker passed the opposing team's goalkeeper and kicked the ball into the empty net, scoring the most important goal of a successful SEA Games at home.

The Thai women's team had nothing to lose, so they sent all their reserve strikers onto the field and they had many chances to equalize, but goalkeeper Kim Thanh made excellent saves. Thanh Nha came onto the field to strengthen the right flank, replacing Bich Thuy. A few more players from the women's team were also sent onto the field in the final minutes to ensure the defensive task, protecting the fragile but extremely valuable 1-0 score of the Vietnamese women's team from the continuous attacks into the penalty area by Chuong Thi Kieu and her teammates.

Huynh Nhu (number 9) and teammates waved flags and ran around Cam Pha stadium after the match on the evening of May 21. Photo: Internet

The Vietnamese women's team successfully defended the SEA Games gold medal and scored the second hat-trick of gold medals in the history of the golden girls' participation in the SEA Games. It was truly a miracle for coach Mai Duc Chung and his team, strengthening the confidence of Vietnamese women's football before officially stepping onto the world stage at the 2023 World Cup. Congratulations to the Vietnamese women's football team on their wonderful achievements at the 31st SEA Games as well as 3 consecutive SEA Games.

This victory brings the SEA Games gold medal tally of women's football to 7, surpassing the record of Thailand's women's football (5 times). Coach Mai Duc Chung has won the SEA Games gold medal 5 times as head coach of the Vietnam women's national team. This result will certainly encourage the boys in red in the final match of the Vietnam U23 men's football against Thailand U23 on the evening of May 22 to defend the SEA Games gold medal.