On the evening of September 17, the Vietnamese women's team faced Japan in the second match of Group E of ASIAD 2026 women's football. Against an opponent who is rated higher in all aspects, the Vietnamese women's team actively played defensively and looked for opportunities from counter-attack situations.
In the early period of the match, the defense of the Vietnamese women's team maintained concentration and only let Japan score 2 goals. However, Huynh Nhu's own goal in the 43rd minute significantly affected the morale of the whole team.
After the break, Japan continued to increase pressure and score more goals. In the end, the Vietnamese women's team suffered a 0-8 defeat.
Assessing the match, coach Hoang Van Phuc said that this is still a necessary experience for Vietnamese female players.
This is a very useful match for the Vietnamese women's team, helping players accumulate more experience. What I always aim for is that the players' ball control ability will gradually improve when facing East Asian teams such as Japan, China or North Korea," Mr. Hoang Van Phuc shared.
According to coach Hoang Van Phuc, the coaching staff has identified Japan as an opponent with superior level, so they chose the defensive option, while waiting for counter-attack opportunities.
We know clearly that Japan is a strong opponent, we have advocated playing defensively, minimizing the number of goals conceded and waiting for counter-attack opportunities. The players played hard, at times doing their job well, when they only conceded 2 goals before the end of the first half," coach Hoang Van Phuc said.
The coach of the Vietnamese women's team also said that the own goal right before the end of the first half created an unfavorable psychological impact.
Huynh Nhu's own goal in the 43rd minute affected the whole team's psychology. The players lost concentration, giving the opponent a chance to score more goals," Mr. Phuc analyzed.
The defeat against Japan has left the Vietnamese women's team with no points after two matches and is currently ranked third in Group E with a goal difference of -9. However, the opportunity to advance is still there as the Vietnamese women's team is in the group competing for spots for the two third-placed teams with the best results.
In the final match, the Vietnamese women's team will meet Thailand. This is a decisive match for coach Hoang Van Phuc's team's chances of passing the group stage.
Thailand currently also has no points and is at the bottom of Group E due to being inferior to the Vietnamese women's team in goal difference. The match between the Vietnamese women's team and Thailand takes place at 5:30 PM on September 21 (Vietnam time).
ASIAD 2026 women's football has 12 participating teams, divided into 3 groups. The top two teams in each group and the two third-placed teams with the best results will qualify for the quarterfinals.
