Ho Chi Minh City I defeated Lion City 2-0, advancing to the quarterfinals of the AFC Champions League.
Two goals in the 84th and 90+3 minutes helped Ho Chi Minh City I defeat Lion City Sailors 2-0 in the AFC Champions League Women, reaching 6 points after 2 matches and advancing to the quarterfinals early, level on points with Melbourne City.
Ho Chi Minh City I defeated Lion City Sailors 2-0 in the second match of the AFC Champions League Women thanks to two late goals in the 84th and 90+3 minutes, thus securing an early ticket to the quarterfinals with 6 points after 2 matches, level with Melbourne City.
The climax of the match: the turning point from the 84th minute.
The deadlock was only broken in the 84th minute. A poor handling error by Tran Nguyen Bao Chau led to goalkeeper Shakira misjudging the ball's trajectory and making an ill-timed move, sending the ball straight into the net to give TP.HCM I the lead. In the 90+3 minute, K'Thua – a substitute – cleverly shielded the ball before firing a low shot into the far corner, sealing a 2-0 victory.
Match summary: crossbar, post, and crucial saves.
In the first half, Ho Chi Minh City I created several opportunities. Phan Thi Trang took a shot from outside the penalty area in the 8th minute after a wall pass from Thuy Trang; in the 12th minute, Thu Thao crossed from the right wing but her teammates couldn't get to it in time. In the 13th minute, Tatiana Mason unleashed a powerful long-range shot but the ball went wide. Lion City responded in the 16th minute when Ami Takeuchi dribbled skillfully inside the penalty area and took a left-footed shot, but goalkeeper Kim Thanh made a clean save.
The home team continued to increase the pressure: in the 19th minute, Phan Thi Trang's turning shot was blocked by defender Umairah Hamdan; in the 33rd minute, Huynh Nhu delivered a good cross but Aubrey Rae Goodwill couldn't reach it; in the 36th minute, Tuyet Ngan's cross was perfectly placed for Phan Thi Trang to head over the crossbar. Most notably, in the 45+2 minute, Huynh Nhu's free kick near the near post forced Shakira to make a superb save for Lion City.
After the break, the game became more intense and opportunities came thick and fast for Ho Chi Minh City I. In the 59th minute, Cù Thị Huỳnh Như – who had just come on – unleashed a powerful shot that hit the post. In the 68th minute, she delivered a cross that led to Phan Thị Trang's shot, which narrowly missed the crossbar. In the 71st minute, captain Huỳnh Như beat a defender but was tightly marked by the Lion City defense. The match was interrupted for about 10 minutes in the 82nd minute due to a serious injury to Nur Ain Salleh before two late goals were scored.
Tactical angles: right wing, crosses, and impact from substitutions.
The match data shows that Ho Chi Minh City I persistently attacked down the right flank and through crosses. In the first half, crosses from the right wing by Thu Thao and crosses from Huynh Nhu and Tuyet Ngan constantly targeted the space behind the opposing defenders. In the second half, personnel changes proved decisive: Cu Thi Huynh Nhu created a breakthrough immediately after coming on with a shot that hit the post and a cross that allowed a teammate to hit the crossbar; K'Thua appeared at the right moment to seal the match in the 90+3 minute.
Conversely, Lion City relied heavily on Ami Takeuchi's individual dribbling in the penalty area, but Kim Thanh and the TP.HCM I defense maintained their focus to keep a clean sheet.
Selective statistics
- Score: Ho Chi Minh City I 2-0 Lion City Sailors
- Goals: 84' (opening goal), 90+3' (K'Thua sealed the victory)
- The ball hit the woodwork for TP.HCM I twice (59' post, 68' crossbar)
- Remarkable save: Shakira blocks Huỳnh Như's free kick in the 45+2 minute.
- Ho Chi Minh City I keeps a clean sheet.
- Scores after 2 rounds: Ho Chi Minh City I 6 points, early qualification for the quarterfinals; tied with Melbourne City
Key milestones
| Minute | Event |
|---|---|
| 8' | Phan Thị Trang took a shot from outside the penalty area after a wall pass from Thùy Trang. |
| 12' | Thu Thảo broke down the right wing and delivered a dangerous cross. |
| 13' | Tatiana Mason took a long-range shot, but the ball went wide. |
| 16' | Ami Takeuchi took a shot inside the penalty area, but Kim Thanh made a clean save. |
| 19' | Phan Thị Trang turned and took a shot, the ball hit Umairah Hamdan. |
| 33' | Huynh Nhu crosses the ball, Aubrey Rae Goodwill can't reach it. |
| 36' | Tuyết Ngân delivered a cross, and Phan Thị Trang headed the ball over the crossbar. |
| 45+2' | Shakira made a save after Huỳnh Như's close-range corner kick. |
| 59' | Cu Thi Huynh Nhu's shot hit the post. |
| 68' | Phan Thi Trang's shot hit the crossbar. |
| 71' | Huynh Nhu beat a defender but couldn't get past the defense. |
| 82' | The match was interrupted due to an injury to Nur Ain Salleh. |
| 84' | Ho Chi Minh City I opened the scoring after goalkeeper Shakira's ill-timed move out of his goal. |
| 90+3' | K'Thua held off defenders and finished with a shot into the far corner to seal the 2-0 victory. |
Impact on the overall situation
The victory gives Ho Chi Minh City I 6 points after two matches, securing their place in the AFC Champions League Women's quarter-finals. Their current record is level with Melbourne City, creating a favorable foundation for the race for the top spot in the remaining matches.
