Courtesy: Nhan Dan Online


Vietnam start favourably at AFC Women's Futsal Championship finals

Thursday, 3/5/2018

Captain Nguyen Thi Thanh scored the only goal in the second half to give Vietnam women’s futsal team a favourable start at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women's Futsal Championship, as they beat Chinese Taipei 1-0 in Bangkok on May 2.

Coach Truong Quoc Tuan’s players demonstrated their skillful techniques and experience and soon took control right from the start of their opening match in Group B. Thanh came close to opening the scoring from a free-kick in the first minute but Chinese Taipei 'keeper Li I-chieh did well to block the attempt.

Underdogs Chinese Taipei were mainly focused on defence and the tactic proved effective as the team maintained the goalless score line against the continuous attacks from their Vietnamese opponents during the first half.

Vietnam returned from the break more eager to break the deadlock and played with higher intensity, which left Chinese Taipei with little freedom and space to move around the court.

In the 29th minute, Chinese Taipei picked up their fourth foul of the second half and had to resort to a less aggressive approach which Vietnam immediately took advantage of. Thanh was in the right place to score after her teammate Nguyen Thi Chau outmuscled the Chinese Taipei defender.

Vietnam continued to maintain their dominance but missed several missed opportunities from Do Thi Nguyen, Bui Thi Trang and Ngo Nguyen Thuy Linh. Chinese Taipei’s goalkeeper Li remained focused to deny the Vietnamese attempts to keep the score at 1-0.

The narrow win helps the Vietnamese team to gain an advantage before entering the second group match against Bangladesh on May 4.

In the other Group B opening match on Wednesday, the Malaysian players defeated Bangladesh 7-1 and temporarily took the table’s top spot (the same three points with Vietnam but superior in terms of goal difference).

The tournament features 15 teams, divided into four groups (one with three teams and three with four teams), with the group winners and the best runner-up advancing to the quarter-finals.


Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com