Women’s Futsal at SEA Games 33: After defeating the Philippines 1-0, the Vietnamese women’s team has secured a spot in the final
The Vietnamese women’s futsal team excellently defeated the Philippines 1-0 in the semifinals of SEA Games 33, becoming the first women’s futsal team to reach the final. This is a courageous victory for the coach and players after a challenging match, where the turning point came in the second half thanks to strategic adjustments and timely moments of brilliance.
Right after the kickoff whistle, the red-shirted team proactively pushed forward, controlling the game and continuously applying pressure on the opponent’s half. Biện Thị Hằng, Thùy Trang, and Nguyệt Vi all had notable scoring chances, but the goals still did not materialize. One of the reasons was the outstanding performance of goalkeeper Hughes Jane – a tall, solidly built keeper who consistently denied Vietnam’s shooting attempts.
On the other side, the Philippines played a tight and organized defense, focusing on massed defending and waiting for counterattack opportunities. In the 12th minute, the Philippines managed to put the ball into Vietnam’s net, but the goal was disallowed due to a foul from a free kick that was awarded incorrectly. Prior to that, goalkeeper Thùy Linh had to make a remarkable save after a few dangerous turnovers by the red-shirted players in the midfield area. The first half ended with a 0-0 draw, forcing the Vietnamese women’s futsal team to seek ways to change the game plan.
In the second half, the momentum of the match shifted noticeably when goalkeeper Hughes Jane was unexpectedly taken off for a rest. Taking advantage of this, Vietnam pushed up the tempo, played high pressing, and continuously created strong pressure in front of the Philippines’ goal. In the 25th minute, from a free kick on the right wing, Nguyệt Vi delivered a precise shot, breaking the deadlock and opening the scoring for the Vietnamese women’s futsal team.
The goal boosted the confidence of the coach’s players, helping them play more freely and confidently. A few minutes later, Hughes Jane returned to the field, and the Philippines began to implement a power-play strategy in the final minutes to search for an equalizer. However, the Vietnamese defense played with focus, discipline, and successfully preserved their slim lead.
With a 1-0 victory, the Vietnamese women’s futsal team has advanced to the final of the 33rd SEA Games, bringing them closer to their goal of winning the gold medal. Their opponent in the final will be the winner of the remaining semi-final match between Indonesia and the host, Thailand.
