Without this very important character, how did the Vietnamese women's team beat Thailand?

Midfielder Duong Thi Van's injury poses a difficult problem for the Vietnamese women's team in the final match of the group stage against Thailand.

Vietnam women's team suffers losses

The 7-0 victory over Indonesia did not satisfy the Vietnamese women's team. Besides the lack of sharp finishing, coach Mai Duc Chung's team also suffered a loss of force when midfielder Duong Thi Van was injured.

After a collision in the first half with the Indonesian women's team, Duong Thi Van suffered a knee injury. The midfielder born in 1994 was immediately taken to the hospital for X-rays and treatment that evening. Although she has returned to the hotel with the team, it is likely that Duong Thi Van will have to miss the match against Thailand in the final round of the group stage (taking place at 7:30 p.m. on August 12), or even the entire AFF Cup 2025.

Duong Thi Van (number 16) is an important factor for the Vietnamese women's team.

PHOTO: MINH TU

Duong Thi Van is the most important factor in the midfield of the Vietnamese women's team. Having officially taken the position since 2019, the small girl from Ninh Binh has become the nucleus of the midfield, thanks to her enduring, resilient energy, fiery and intelligent playing style. Despite her modest physique, Duong Thi Van can dominate and control the midfield very well. In the past 6 years, no one has been able to replace the midfielder of Vietnam Coal and Minerals in this role.

Therefore, the injury of the 31-year-old midfielder poses a difficult problem for coach Mai Duc Chung. He still has midfielders such as Tran Thi Hai Linh and Thai Thi Thao (both playing for Hanoi women's team). However, while Hai Linh still needs more time to accumulate, Thai Thi Thao is more of a shuttle midfielder who penetrates the penalty area, rather than regulating the midfield.

Coach Mai Duc Chung 'The Vietnamese women's team should have won 10-0'

Fierce fight

In the final match against Thailand, the Vietnamese women's team set a goal of winning to take the top spot. However, this is not an easy goal to conquer. Although bringing many young players to the AFF Cup 2025, Thailand played smoothly and passed the ball well. Coach Futoshi Ikeda's students played according to the Japanese model, prioritizing ball control, passing the ball to deploy the game and effectively attack the space.

Because the AFF Cup 2025 is determined to be a prerequisite for the 33rd SEA Games to be held at home later this year, Thailand is very determined.

The Vietnamese women's team (in white) faces a big challenge in the final match of the group stage.

PHOTO: MINH TU

"We have carefully studied the Vietnamese women's team. They have many good players with good individual skills. The Thai women's team will prepare carefully for the match against the Vietnamese women's team," Mr. Ikeda assessed. "We are not afraid of the pressure on the Vietnamese women's team's field. The whole team must always be ready for that."

Because they both tend to play in a controlling style, the midfield battle between the Vietnamese and Thai women's teams will be unpredictable. Without "warrior" Duong Thi Van, coach Mai Duc Chung needs to calculate personnel to ensure balance in the playing style. With experience and courage, the home team is capable of overcoming.

Watch the MSIG Serenity Cup™ 2025 AFF Women's Football Championship live and in full onFPT Play, visit http://fptplay.vn

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/vang-nhan-vat-rat-quan-trong-nay-doi-tuyen-nu-viet-nam-thang-thai-lan-bang-cach-nao-185250810101637938.htm