The Vietnamese women's team lost 0-2 to China in a personnel trial in Shenzhen.
Despite their defensive efforts, Coach Mai Duc Chung's team suffered a 0-2 defeat against a high-class opponent, China. The match was an important opportunity to assess the squad ahead of the Asian Cup.
As part of their training camp in preparation for the 2026 Asian Women's Championship, the Vietnamese women's national team played their first friendly match against strong opponent China on the evening of February 10th in Shenzhen. The match ended with a 0-2 victory for the Chinese team, accurately reflecting the gap in skill level despite the best efforts of Coach Mai Duc Chung's players.
A challenge from the continent's top level.
Entering the match with a learning mindset, the Vietnamese women's team played with focus, prioritizing the construction of a multi-layered defense. Under suffocating pressure from the home team, the Vietnamese defense held firm for the first 30 minutes. However, China's superior physique and technique allowed them to capitalize on opportunities, scoring the opening goal in the 30th minute.
At the start of the second half, a similar scenario repeated itself as the home team intensified their attack. In the 46th minute, following a sharp combination play, China quickly doubled their lead. Despite conceding two early goals in each half, the Vietnamese women's team maintained their tactical discipline and did not collapse under the relentless pressure from their opponents.
Experimental tactics and the return of key players.
For coach Mai Duc Chung, the scoreline wasn't the only priority in this friendly match. The coaching staff took full advantage of the opportunity to assess the squad and test various personnel options on a wide scale. Notably, after falling behind, a series of important tactical changes were made to test the team's ability to react.
Veteran players and promising talents like Huynh Nhu, Duong Thi Van, Vu Thi Hoa, and Nguyen Thi Hoa were successively brought onto the field. The appearance of key players helped improve Vietnam's game with several attacking moves that threatened the goal. However, against China's solid defense, the Vietnamese strikers were still unable to find the back of the net.
Coach Mai Duc Chung finalizes his squad for the final leg of the campaign.
The 0-2 defeat is seen as a necessary professional lesson, helping the team clearly identify weaknesses in finishing and central defense. This is an important stepping stone for the 2026 Women's Asian Cup in Australia next March – the last official tournament that veteran strategist Mai Duc Chung will lead the national team in before retiring.
According to the plan, the two teams will have a rematch on February 13th. This will be the final test in Shenzhen for the coaching staff to address weaknesses and finalize the optimal personnel list. Currently, the identity of coach Mai Duc Chung's successor remains a big question mark for Vietnamese football fans.
