Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Ho Chi Minh City: Le Thu Thanh Huong’s brace and a goal from Nguyen Thi Muon meant Vietnam got their AFC Women’s Asian Cup campaign off to a winning start as the hosts secured a 3-1 win over debutants Jordan at Thong Nhat Stadium on Wednesday.
Thi Muon opened the scoring from close range on the 20th minute only to see a superb individual effort from Maysa Jbarah draw the sides level on 35 minutes.
But the elation on the Jordan bench was cut short just two minutes later as Thanh Huong netted a header from a Tranh Thi Kim Hong corner. And with seven minutes of the contest remaining the forward struck again to seal the victory for the home side and give them the opening three points in Group A.
“I am very happy with the performance of the players today and would like to congratulate my team,” said Vietnam coach Chen Yun Fa.
“This was a very interesting game with both teams playing good attacking football. And Jordan showed a very good development since the last time we played them.
“We made a lot of chances but we didn’t attack with all our ability and that is something we’ll have to work on in the future, particularly in the next two games against Japan and Australia.”
Although the hosts had the better of the opening exchanges as a short-lived burst of rain saturated spectators and players alike, the first shot on target came on 14 minutes through Jordan forward Jbarah who sent a low drive skimming off the wet surface from outside the penalty area that an alert Dang Thi Kieu Trinh pushed wide.
But just six minutes later Vietnam took the lead their early dominance had promised as midfielder Thi Muon poked home from close range following a freekick from wide on the right by Kim Hong.
Nguyen Thi Minh Nguyet went close to doubling the lead on 25 minutes from close range but Jordan custodian Zina Al Sadi pulled off a spectacular reaction save to keep the deficit to a single goal.
However, with 10 minutes of the half remaining the scores were level as right winger Shahnaz Jebreen found Jbarah in space on the edge of the penalty area and the Jordan forward cut inside and curled a sumptuous effort around Kieu Trinh into the far corner.
Jordan’s joy was short-lived, though, as they conceded another free-kick in a dangerous position, this time on the left, that was whipped in by dead-ball specialist Kim Hong and Thanh Huong rose highest to head home to restore the hosts’ lead before the break.
Following the interval, Jordan continued to defend deep and invite pressure, while hoping to catch their hosts on the break through the pacey Jebreen.
But their tactics nearly came undone three minutes past the hour-mark as Vietnam’s second-half substitute Nguyen Thi Nguyet found herself free inside the penalty area and forced Al Sadi into an adroit save at her near post.
Jordan defender Yasmeen Khair went closest to putting her side back on equal terms in the second-half but her far post header from a 77th minute corner flashed narrowly wide.
And her miss was punished six minutes later as Thanh Huong made the points safe with a chipped effort Al Sadi that the Jordan custodian could only palm despairingly into her own net.
“For the Middle East countries, you don’t often have that much rain in the summer. The players function was different as a result of the heavy rain and the pitch was slippery so they couldn’t do as well,” said Jordan coach Masahiko Okiyama.
“In the second half we managed some possession and made some passes, but unfortunately we couldn’t do what we wanted in attack and, unfortunately, we couldn’t have the chance to make the goal.”