Vietnam Futsal Opens Its Own Path to the Semifinals

Just one day after a 0-2 defeat to Australia in their opening match, the Vietnam women's futsal team quickly regained their composure to beat the Philippines 2-0 yesterday afternoon (February 25) in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand. This convincing victory not only keeps coach Nguyễn Đình Hoàng’s squad hopeful for a semifinal spot but also demonstrates the Vietnamese players' resilience and superior understanding of their opponents.

The loss against Australia put the Vietnam women's futsal team in a position where they must win against the Philippines to control their own chances of advancing. Although the pressure was immense, coach Nguyễn Đình Hoàng’s players started the game confidently and proactively. Unlike the nervousness seen in the opening match, Vietnam dominated possession from the early minutes, pressing high and playing with clear, organized ball movement.

In the 5th minute, Thanh Ngân made a strong impact. Using her technical skills on the right wing, she dribbled past the Philippine goalkeeper and calmly scored into an open net, putting Vietnam ahead 1-0. This early goal relieved psychological pressure on Vietnam and forced the Philippines to abandon their passive defensive stance.

Compared to the hard-fought 1-0 win at SEA Games 33, this rematch saw the Vietnam women's futsal team play far more dominantly. Vietnam has won all three previous encounters against the Philippines and knows their strengths and weaknesses well. The star player Tolentin (who scored the only goal to help the Philippines defeat Myanmar 1-0 in the first round) was almost completely neutralized by coach Nguyễn Đình Hoàng’s players. She had little possession and no space to unleash her signature shots.

The one-sided match continued throughout the first half. In the 11th minute, Thanh Ngân shone again with a dribble and assist to Phương Anh for a close-range shot, which unfortunately lacked power. At the 16th minute, Vietnam earned a penalty after Phương Anh’s shot hit defender Tulabing’s hand, but Thanh Ngân failed to convert, as goalkeeper Santiago made the save. Despite dominating the game, Vietnam’s failure to capitalize kept the score margin narrow.

In the second half, Thùy Trang and her teammates maintained control of the tempo. In the 26th minute, Phương Anh executed a sharp turn and shot, but the Philippine goalkeeper made an excellent save. Numerous chances went by, while the defense stayed highly alert to prevent any sudden counterattacks.