* Huynh Nhu’s extra-time goal helps Vietnam clinch AFF Women’s Championship trophy
“This is a historic match, not only to the Vietnam women’s team but also to myself in my women’s football coaching career,” Chung told reporters after the title match.
“This is the second time since the 2016 AFF Cup in Myanmar that we have encountered Thailand in a match with many penalty controversies. In the context of Thailand holding a home-field advantage, we fought bravely despite having to play with only ten members on the field,” he said.
Ahead of the final, Vietnam faced a lot of difficulties as striker Huynh Nhu suffered an injury, while many other players had been exhausted after the group-stage fixtures and the semifinal against Myanmar. Luckily, Huynh Nhu managed a timely recovery to continue playing with her teammates. It was Nhu who became the hero by scoring an extra-time winner to fire Vietnam to their third crown in history, after the previous two triumphs in 2006 and 2012.
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Coach Mai Duc Chung continues to harvest success with the Vietnam women's national team.
Chung did not spare his words of applause while touching upon the fighting spirit of his players.
“It can be said that the Vietnamese players fought bravely and with optimal efforts throughout the 120 minutes in order to safeguard their advantage until the final whistle in an extremely tough match. It was something very pride-worthy.”
The 68-year-old tactician attributed Vietnam’s overall victory to the team’s high solidarity and then the coaching staff’s tactics and timely encouragement.
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Vietnamese players celebrate their trophy. (Photo: VFF)
Successfully concluding the tournament in Thailand, the Vietnamese champions will return home today (August 28) and resume training with their clubs in preparation for the second leg of the 2019 National Women’s Football Championship, slated for September 13-October 4 at Ha Nam Stadium in Ha Nam province.
The national team are set to reconvene immediately after the conclusion of the national championship in order to gear up for the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games 2019 in the Philippines this November. As scheduled, Mai Duc Chung’s side will have a training camp in Japan to be well-prepared for their last important mission of the year.
