Coach Hoang Van Phuc: Vietnam women's team stick to plan in first half despite 0-3 loss to China

Vietnam women's national team lost 0-3 to China in a friendly match ahead of the 2026 Asian Games, but head coach Hoang Van Phuc saw clear positives in the first half. Vietnam defended in a compact low block, kept good spacing between the lines and created one or two counter-attacking chances that were not converted. In the second half, China increased physical pressure and scored in the 48th and 58th minutes after Vietnam lost duels and allowed gaps to open. A Vietnam goal at 85 minutes was disallowed for offside, showing the team's counter-attacking threat. Coach Hoang Van Phuc called the match useful preparation, especially for testing rotation players such as Hoang Thi Loan and Duong Thi Van. Vietnam will face host Japan, Chinese Taipei and Thailand in the 2026 Asian Games group. Their opening match is scheduled for September 14, 2026 against Chinese Taipei.