Pre-match information
Group B in women's football at the 33rd SEA Games is considered a "death" group when the three strongest teams in the region, the Vietnamese women's team, the Philippines and Myanmar, are present.
The Philippines' defeat to Myanmar in the opening match made the group even more unpredictable. With this result, the Philippines is forced to win the remaining 2 matches to take the right to decide. In particular, the match against Vietnam is of special significance.
In fact, the previous loss of the Philippines women's team came from an imbalance between attack and defense. They created an encroachment in the game thanks to their physique and ability to hit the sidelines, continuously bringing the ball into the penalty area from crosses and dead balls.
However, their inaccuracy at the end of the run caused them to miss many clear opportunities. When the formation was too high, the Philippine defense could not recover to cover the gap, creating an opportunity for Myanmar to counterattack and score 2 goals.
Meanwhile, the Vietnam women's team started smoothly against Malaysia with a resounding 7-0 victory. However, this is not a comprehensive measure as Malaysia is much inferior in terms of qualifications and almost does not create pressure. Therefore, the confrontation with the Philippines is a match that truly reflects Vietnam's ability in the race for the gold medal.
The Philippines women's team is still a big challenge because this opponent has defeated Vietnam in the last 2 meetings. To get good results, Vietnam needs to prioritize solidity, maintain tactical discipline and avoid falling into a chasing position.