Philippines coach reminds Vietnam women's team before HCMC I match
Before the opening match of the AFC Champions League for women, Stallion Laguna coach Ernest Nierras said the team has 6-7 national players and sees the tournament as a warm-up for the 33rd SEA Games.
HCM City I, with the leader of the attack Huynh Nhu, will open the AFC Champions League for women 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 train for the 33rd SEA Games, and frankly mentioned the series of unfavorable results of the Philippine women's football team when facing the Vietnamese women's team.
Ho Chi Minh City I aims high, aiming for 3 points on opening day
After the impressive 2024/25 season with a ticket to the semi-finals, HCMC I set a higher target in this year's campaign. The Vietnamese team aims to win 3 points on the opening day, thereby creating momentum for the journey in the Asian tournament.
Stallion Laguna and a message from coach Ernest Nierras
Stallion Laguna reached the group stage after a qualifying round of 2 wins and 1 loss. Talking about the goal, coach Ernest Nierras (Stalllion Laguna FC) said: "We recently participated in the qualifying round to be present in this tournament. This is a very meaningful tournament for Philippine women's football in developing stronger in Asia in the future. Currently, our team has 6-7 players in the national team, so this tournament is an opportunity for our players to train for the upcoming 33rd SEA Games".
He also frankly looked back at the past confrontations: "In recent years, we have faced the Vietnamese women's team many times and often lost. Recently, when the AFC allowed the naturalization of players, I hope the Philippine women's team will have a fairer competition with opponents from the continent and the world. In this match, don't forget that we are a Southeast Asian family, so the confrontation between countries in the region will help Southeast Asian women's football develop more strongly."
Professional support: player frame and Asian tournament pace
Having 6-7 players from the national team helps Stallion Laguna maintain cohesion, the ability to adapt to high intensity competition and advanced tactical requirements. As for HCMC I, the experience of 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 qualifying.
- The Philippine team has 6-7 national players on its roster.
- Ho Chi Minh City I entered the semi-finals of the 2024/25 season and set a target of 3 points in the opening match.
Opponents in the same group highly rate HCMC I
Among the participating teams, Melbourne City coach Michael Matriciani said: "Before entering the tournament, our analysis team thoroughly researched the opponents, including the host HCMC. In my opinion, this is a strong team and reached the semi-finals of last year's tournament. I am looking forward to our confrontation with them. Our goal is to try our best in each match and be present in the final match of the tournament."
Lion City Sailors coach Yeong Sheau Shyan talked about the lessons learned: "This is our second time participating in the AFC Champions League for women, but the first time we didn't know much about the tournament so our preparation wasn't very good. However, this time everything has been better prepared, especially the addition of foreign players to increase the team's strength."
Regional significance and expectations for the opening match
Coach Ernest Nierras' message "we are a Southeast Asian family" reflects the spirit of competition and mutual support in the region. On the field, Ho Chi Minh City I entered the match with a clear goal of 3 points, while Stallion Laguna considered this a strategic camp for the 33rd SEA Games. The difference lies in the experience of the Vietnamese representative in this playground, contrasting with the Philippines team's motivation to assert themselves after the qualifying round.
That context promises an intense opening day: one side carries the legacy of last season's semi-finals, the other side has 6-7 national players and the desire to change the situation against familiar opponents in the region, including the Vietnam women's team.