Ho Chi Minh City women's team advances to quarterfinals, receives AFC reward of $80,000.
Despite losing 0-3 to Melbourne City in the final match of Group A, Ho Chi Minh City Women's team still advanced to the quarterfinals of the AFC Women's Champions League 2025/26; they also received an additional $80,000, bringing their total prize money to approximately VND 6.1 billion.
The Ho Chi Minh City women's team concluded their AFC Women's Champions League 2025/26 group stage campaign with a 0-3 defeat against Melbourne City, but still secured a place in the quarter-finals thanks to two previous victories. With this achievement, the team received an additional $80,000 USD (approximately 2.1 billion VND) in prize money from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), bringing their total prize money up to the end of the group stage to approximately 6.1 billion VND.
An early moment that changed the pace of the game.
Melbourne City took the initiative right from the opening whistle. Within seconds, goalkeeper Kim Thanh had to pick the ball out of the net after a shot from McNamara, before Apostolakis doubled the lead in the 4th minute with a quick counter-attack.
With two key players, Thuy Trang and Huynh Nhu, absent from the starting lineup due to minor injuries, Ho Chi Minh City FC was forced to rely on many young players. This personnel change significantly affected their ability to control the midfield and organize their play, especially when opponents made good use of their physical and stamina advantages.
Coach Kim Chi's adjustments and the resistance efforts.
In the second half, coach Kim Chi brought on Huynh Nhu and Bao Chau to increase the attacking power. The appearance of these two experienced players helped Ho Chi Minh City FC control the ball more confidently and create some notable attacking combinations.
Nevertheless, Melbourne City maintained a solid formation and read the game effectively, consistently neutralizing the home team's attacks from both the flanks and the center. An early two-goal lead allowed the Australian side to control the tempo, and they finished the match with a 3-0 victory.
Quarterfinal ticket and prize money structure
Despite losing their final match, Ho Chi Minh City FC still advanced to the knockout round thanks to their two previous victories in Group A, against Stallion Laguna and Lion City Sailors respectively. This qualification earned the team an additional $80,000 (approximately 2.1 billion VND) from the AFC.
Previously, Ho Chi Minh City received $140,000, including $100,000 for participating in the group stage and $40,000 for two wins ( $20,000 each). The Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) also awarded a motivational bonus of 300 million VND after the first two wins.
| Bonus | Value |
|---|---|
| Group stage | $100,000 |
| Bonus for 2 wins in the group stage | $40,000 ($20,000 per match) |
| Into the quarter-finals | $80,000 (approximately 2.1 billion VND) |
| VFF awards incentives | 300 million VND |
| Total until the end of the group stage | Approximately 6.1 billion VND |
Professional perspective
Two extremely early goals sealed the fate of the game, forcing Ho Chi Minh City to chase the game while missing two experienced players in midfield and attack. When Huynh Nhu and Bao Chau came on, the home team's attacking rhythm became more fluid, but Melbourne City's superior physique, stamina, and solid defensive organization were enough to narrow the space and limit Ho Chi Minh City's clear opportunities.
Nevertheless, the most important goal in the group stage has been achieved: a place in the quarter-finals along with a substantial prize pool, creating a financial and morale boost for the knockout stage ahead.