TP.HCM I beat Lion City 2-0, entered the quarter-finals of the Asian Cup C1
Two goals in the 84th and 90+3rd minutes helped TP.HCM I beat Lion City Sailors 2-0 at AFC Champions League Women, reaching 6 points after 2 matches and entering the quarterfinals early, equaling Melbourne City's points.
TP.HCM I defeated Lion City Sailors 2-0 in the second round of AFC Champions League Women thanks to two late goals in the 84th and 90+3 minutes, thereby quickly securing a ticket to the quarterfinals with 6 points after 2 matches, equal to Melbourne City.
Final climax: turning point from minute 84
The deadlock was only broken in the 84th minute. From a poor handling of the ball by Tran Nguyen Bao Chau, goalkeeper Shakira misjudged the landing point and entered the ball inappropriately, sending the ball straight into the net, helping TP.HCM I open the score. In the 90+3 minute, K'Thua - a substitute player - cleverly pressed the ball before finishing low into the far corner, sealing a 2-0 victory.
The action: crossbar, goalpost and key saves
In the first half, TP.HCM I created many opportunities. Phan Thi Trang shot outside the box in the 8th minute after Thuy Trang's wall; in the 12th minute, Thu Thao crossed from the right wing but her teammate could not get in. In the 13th minute, Tatiana Mason shot from afar but the ball went out of the outside of her foot. Lion City responded in the 16th minute when Ami Takeuchi dribbled skillfully in the box and shot with her left foot, but goalkeeper Kim Thanh caught it.
The home team continued to increase the pressure: in the 19th minute, Phan Thi Trang's turn and shot was blocked by defender Umairah Hamdan; in the 33rd minute, Huynh Nhu crossed the ball well but Aubrey Rae Goodwill could not touch the ball; in the 36th minute, Tuyet Ngan hung the ball as if it was set for Phan Thi Trang to head it over the bar. Most notably, in the 45+2nd minute, Huynh Nhu's free kick near the near corner forced Shakira to make an excellent reflex save for Lion City.
After the break, the game became more intense and opportunities continued to come to TP.HCM I. In the 59th minute, Cu Thi Huynh Nhu - who had just entered the field - shot the ball dangerously, sending it to the post. In the 68th minute, she crossed to open up a shot that was close to the crossbar for Phan Thi Trang, but the ball hit the crossbar. In the 71st minute, captain Huynh Nhu got past a defender but was blocked by Lion City's defense. The match was interrupted for about 10 minutes in the 82nd minute due to Nur Ain Salleh's serious injury before two late goals appeared.
Tactical angle: right wing, cross and impact from substitution
The timing data shows that TP.HCM I persistently attacked the right wing and the hanging ball situations. In the first half, the passes from the right wing of Thu Thao and the hanging balls of Huynh Nhu and Tuyet Ngan continuously aimed at the space behind the opponent's defenders. In the second half, the personnel adjustments were decisive: Cu Thi Huynh Nhu created a breakthrough as soon as she entered the field with a shot that hit the post and a cross that helped her teammate hit the crossbar; K'Thua appeared at the right time to close the match in the 90+3 minute.
In the opposite direction, 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 concentration to keep a clean sheet.
Selected statistics
- Score: TP.HCM I 2-0 Lion City Sailors
- Goals: 84' (opening score), 90+3' (K'Thua determined)
- The ball hit the goalpost of TP.HCM I: 2 times (59' post, 68' crossbar)
- Remarkable save: Shakira blocked Huynh Nhu's free kick in the 45+2 minute
- TP.HCM I kept a clean sheet
- Score after 2 rounds: TP.HCM I 6 points, early into the quarterfinals; equal score with Melbourne City
Important timeline
| Minute | Event |
|---|---|
| 8' | Phan Thi Trang shot outside the penalty area after Thuy Trang's wall. |
| 12' | Thu Thao escaped to the right wing, crossed dangerously |
| 13' | Tatiana Mason shot from afar, the ball went out to the outside of the foot |
| 16' | Ami Takeuchi shot in the penalty area, Kim Thanh caught it |
| 19' | Phan Thi Trang turned and shot, the ball hit Umairah Hamdan |
| 33' | Huynh Nhu hung the ball, Aubrey Rae Goodwill couldn't touch it. |
| 36' | Tuyet Ngan hung the ball, Phan Thi Trang headed it over the bar. |
| 45+2' | Shakira saves Huynh Nhu's near corner kick |
| 59' | Cu Thi Huynh Nhu's shot hit the post. |
| 68' | Phan Thi Trang's shot hit the crossbar. |
| 71' | Huynh Nhu got past a defender but could not get past the defense. |
| 82' | The match was interrupted due to Nur Ain Salleh's injury. |
| 84' | TP.HCM I opened the score after goalkeeper Shakira's unreasonable entry and exit. |
| 90+3' | K'Thua pressed down and finished from the far corner to make it 2-0. |
Impact on the situation
The victory helped TP.HCM I gain 6 points after two matches, soon entering the quarterfinals of the AFC Champions League Women. The achievement is now equal to Melbourne City, creating a favorable foundation for the race for the top spot in the remaining matches.
