Vietnam exit Women’s Asian Cup after losing against China

In eight encounters with China since 2006, Vietnam have lost all of them. This time, in India, Vietnam couldn’t claim victory either, but they scored against China for the first time.

Vietnam started the game with a low and defensive formation as China put so much pressure at the beginning. However, to everyone’s surprise, Vietnam opened the score in the 11th minute, as Nguyen Thi Tuyet Dung got the ball after a China defender made the wrong pass to her under pressure and Dung didn’t miss a great chance to finish cleanly.

Vietnam players celebrate the opener in the quarterfinal of Women’s Asian Cup with China on January 30, 2022. Photo by Asian Football Confederation

Even head coach Mai Duc Chung was surprised by the goal. He was going to put key players on the bench for the World Cup play-offs but when Vietnam scored, he put them to the field and aimed for a win.

However, China equalized in the 25th minute. Wang Shanshan crossed it in from the left flank and Wang Shuang appeared in time for a tap-in.

After the break, Vietnam tried to find another goal but when they were still struggling to do that, China scored two goals in just two minutes (52nd and 53rd) with very quick counter-attacks.

First was Wang Shanshan with great ball control inside the box and finishing from her left foot, which left keeper Tran Thi Kim Thanh no chance. A few seconds later, Vietnam lost the ball in the midfield and Tang Jiali sprinted down the left flank really fast while the defenders were drawn to Wang Shansan and Wang Shuang. The ball was passed to Tang and the Tottenham Hotspurs player dribbled past several Vietnam defenders before finishing powerfully in the top corner.

China’s Wang Shanshan (C) tries to take the ball past Vietnamese defenders at their Women’s Asian Cup quaterfinal on January 30, 2022. Photo by the Asian Football Confederation

After two quick goals, China continued to seek more. 10 minutes before the game ended, Chengshu Wu scored but Wang Shuang, who assisted her, was offside.

In the 88th minute, Vietnam got a little bit of hope when they received a penalty after China got a handball. However, on the penalty spot, Nguyen Thi Bich Thuy hit the bar.

The game ended with a 1-3 defeat for Vietnam.

The loss cost Vietnam a direct ticket to the Women’s World Cup 2023. However, Vietnam still have another chance at the play-offs. In the first play-offs, Vietnam will play Thailand on February 2 and the second on the 6th.

 

 

Vietnam exit Women’s Asian Cup after losing against China

Việt Nam 1-3 Trung Quốc