AFC U20 WOMEN’S ASIAN CUP Group A: Vietnam 1-0 Bangladesh
Nonthaburi: Vietnam defeated Bangladesh 1-0 in their final Group A of the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup Thailand 2026™ at the Nonthaburi Stadium on Tuesday. With the win, Vietnam finished third in Group A but will have to wait for the remaining group stage matches to confirm a knockout stage spot as one of the best third-placed teams.
13/04/2026 14:17:05
Vietnam showed their attacking intent first with midfielders Ngan Thi Thanh Hieu and Luu Hoang Van keeping Bangladesh goalkeeper Mile Akter on her toes in the early minutes.
Bangladesh also tried to make their presence felt in the eighth minute when Umehla Marma beat Nguyen Thi Thuy Linh on the left to find her way into the box, but her effort was swiftly blocked by defender Nguyen Thi Thuong.
Mosammat Sagorika then had a chance in the 12th minute after collecting Afeida Khandaker’s aerial ball, which Ta Thi Hong Minh failed to clear, but Vietnam goalkeeper Le Thi Thu reacted quickly to deny her.
Five minutes later, Hoang Van lobbed the ball over a number of Bangladesh defenders to set up Nguyen Thi Quy at the edge of the box, but the number 16’s effort went too high.
The South Asians had yet another chance in the 20th minute when the Vietnamese keeper almost let Puja Das’s free-kick slip past the goalmouth, but recovered to collect it.
In the next minute, Nguyen Thi Quy fed the ball to Hoang Van in the centre of the box, but the number nine’s close-range effort went skyward.
Vietnam should have taken the lead just ahead of the half-hour mark when Nguyen Thi Thuy Linh set up Hoang Van on the right with a precise cross, but the latter’s right-footed attempt soared above the crossbar.
The stalemate was finally broken three minutes into the second half when a free-kick in the defensive half saw defender Hong Minh unleash a powerful right-footed effort that travelled the length of the Bangladesh half.
The Bangladesh custodian did her best to parry it away but left the goalmouth unattended, allowing Thuy Linh to calmly tuck the loose ball into the net for Vietnam.
The lead injected the Okiyama Masahiko-led side with renewed energy as they kept their South Asian rivals under constant pressure.
The debutants nearly restored parity in the 70th minute when Momita Khatun sent in a cross towards Sagorika, who rose to meet it but failed to make contact with her header.
With five minutes left on the clock, Thuy Linh almost got her second when she positioned herself well to receive Than Hieu’s cross, but just failed to make contact with the ball.
