Ho Chi Minh City women's team won 2-1 against Vietnam team, Huynh Nhu opened the score

Ho Chi Minh City Women's Club defeated the Vietnam Women's National Team 2-1 in the return friendly match at the Vietnam Youth Football Training Center on November 4. Huynh Nhu opened the score in the 15th minute after pressing high and taking advantage of the opponent's mistake; Thanh Nha equalized for the team before Le Hoai Luong's beautiful long-range shot in the second half sealed the victory for the city team. The result helped Ho Chi Minh City "avenge" the 2-3 defeat in the first leg.

Key developments: pressing, the moment and the decisive shot

Ho Chi Minh City entered the match with a proactive mindset, pushing their formation high to put pressure on the opponent's field. The effect came early: in the 15th minute, from a confused situation of the national team's defense, Huynh Nhu - captain of the Vietnamese team - stole the ball and finished neatly to open the score. The goal showed the difference in experience, the ability to sniff out opportunities and the speed of decision-making of this striker.

After conceding the goal, coach Mai Duc Chung's players adjusted their midfield, calmly escaped the pressure and pushed up the wing. Thanh Nha was the one who finished off the attack with a precise shot in the penalty area, equalizing 1-1 for the Vietnamese women's team.

The balance did not last long. In the second half, when the team pushed up the formation, Ho Chi Minh City took advantage of the space behind the midfield. Defender Le Hoai Luong suddenly fired a long shot, the ball went hard and dangerous, bringing the final goal 2-1. The situation showed that Ho Chi Minh City not only hit the error when pressing but also ready to punish from the second line of shots.

Tactical analysis: pressure from pressing and second line play

The biggest difference for Ho Chi Minh City came from the intensity of high-level pressing immediately after losing the ball. The compact formation and short distance allowed them to quickly close in, forcing the team's defense to make mistakes in dangerous areas - the premise for the opening goal. When the team adjusted by pulling back to support the deployment, Ho Chi Minh City flexibly lowered the formation, kept the distance and waited for the moment to launch the finishing move from the second line.

On the other hand, the Vietnamese women’s team reacted well after conceding a goal. The triangle pressing escapes, one-touch rhythms and quick wing changes created space for the strikers to cut in. Thanh Nha’s equalizer was a product of this approach: occupying the 16m50 area at the right time, finishing decisively.

The second half showed that the problem of controlling long shots and covering the space in front of the penalty area was still open for the team. As the midfield pushed up, space opened up in front of the defense, and a moment of quality from Le Hoai Luong decided the match.

Selected statistics

• Score: Ho Chi Minh City Women's Club 2-1 Vietnam Women's Team.
• Match date: November 4; Location: Vietnam Youth Football Training Center (Hanoi).
• Goal scorers: Huynh Nhu (15'); Thanh Nha; Le Hoai Luong (second half).
• Nature: Return friendly; first leg the home team won 3-2.

Professional Impact and Upcoming Schedule

Despite the loss, the match provided a lot of material for Coach Mai Duc Chung to evaluate in the personnel review phase before the training trip to Japan on November 20. The Vietnamese women's team is expected to have 5 friendly matches here, aiming to complete the squad for the 33rd SEA Games.

For the Ho Chi Minh City Women's Club, the victory over the national team has great spiritual significance before the group stage of the 2025/26 Asian Women's Club Cup, taking place at Thong Nhat Stadium from November 13 to 19. After the tournament, the group of pillars including Huynh Nhu, Chuong Thi Kieu and Quach Thu Em will return to the national team, strengthening the team's strength to defend the SEA Games gold medal.

Schedule, goals

• Vietnam women's team: Training in Japan from November 20, 5 friendly matches expected.
• Ho Chi Minh City Women's Club: Group stage of the 2025/26 Asian Women's Club Cup at Thong Nhat Stadium (November 13-19).

SEA Games 33 situation

The Vietnamese women’s team is in Group B with Myanmar, the Philippines and Malaysia. Testing personnel, perfecting the mechanisms to escape pressing and protecting the corridors in front of the penalty area will be tactical priorities from now until the tournament.

Outstanding personnel overview

This season, Huynh Nhu continued to reap success with Ho Chi Minh City FC when winning the national championship. The form of this striker, along with the return of key players such as Chuong Thi Kieu and Quach Thu Em after completing their duties at the club level, promises to raise the level of internal competition within the team before the SEA Games.

The match ended with a sense of fairness for a test of fire: Ho Chi Minh City were sharp, taking advantage of the moment; the team gathered valuable data for further adjustments. The road ahead – Japan and SEA Games 33 – will be a yardstick for the lessons learned from these 90 minutes.