AFC Women’s Asian Cup India 2022 Qualifiers – Group B: Vietnam signal intent with power show against Maldives
Vietnam made a blistering start to their AFC Women’s Asian Cup India 2022 qualifying campaign, surging to a record 16-0 win over Maldives at Republican Central Stadium on Thursday.
Ranked 112 places higher than their opponents, Vietnam scored five first half goals and piled on 11 more after the interval to register their highest ever score at senior international level.
Substitute Pham Hai Yen scored six times in a dazzling individual display, while a total of eight Vietnamese players etched their names on the scoresheet in addition to the own goal registered by Maldivian defender Hawwa Haneefa.
The win puts Vietnam within 90 minutes of qualification for next year’s Finals, with a win against group hosts Tajikistan next Wednesday enough to seal their place in the India 2022 draw.
The gulf in experience between the two sides was immediately evident and it took 11 minutes for the first goal to arrive via Nguyen Thi Thanh Nha, with Haneefa’s own goal doubling the advantage two minutes later.
Winger Nguyen Thi Tuyet Dung extended the lead three minutes later, with Nguyen Thi Tuyet Ngan and Tran Thi Thuy Trang adding their names to the tally to make it 5-0 at half time.
The destination of the three points had been settled by then, but things got worse for Ahmed Shareef’s side after the break, with Chuong Thi Kieu starting a Vietnamese scoring spree when she added a sixth in the 50th minute.
Pham, who had come in late in the first half, scored her first a minute later, with captain Hunyh Nhu netting her customary goal to make it 8-0 after 56 minutes, before further goals from Pham, Nguyen Thi Thanh Nha and Nguyen Thi Tuyet Dung.
The focus then turned to Pham’s individual goal blitz, when she added goals in the 67th, 73rd and 79th minutes, with Ho Thi Quynh becoming the final new name on the scoresheet before Pham netted her sixth in the 84th minute, bringing an end to a remarkable 35-minute period which produced 10 Vietnamese goals.
Hopeful of not only a place at India 2022, but a first ever FIFA Women’s World Cup qualification, Vietnam must now wait six days before their second and final Group B match against Tajikistan, while Maldives will aim to turn in a more competitive performance when they meet the group hosts on Sunday.
