Group C: Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies (JPN) 2-0 Ho Chi Minh City Women’s FC (VIE)
Ho Chi Minh: Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies stayed perfect after defeating Ho Chi Minh City Women’s FC of Vietnam 2-0 in their final AFC Women’s Champions League™ 2024/25 Group C match on Saturday.
14/10/2024 14:52:54
With three wins out of three with 21 goals scored and none conceded, Urawa marched into the knockout stage in ominous form while this was Ho Chi Minh City’s only blip as they finished second on six points.
Despite progression already assured, head coach Naoki Kusunose and Nguyen Hong Pam started with their strongest lineups to ensure an exciting battle to top the group.
Tatiana Mason almost put the home side ahead after only 11 minutes but her swerving shot from distance was well caught by Maya Ino before Mei Shimada scooped a shot over the bar from close range minutes later.
From then on, Urawa took a stranglehold on the game with Satoko Fujisaki next to register an attempt, cutting in from the left before firing just over the bar.
The breakthrough came in the 25th minute after a great run from Yu Endo on the right flank, her cutback finding Shimada who produced a cheeky back-heel that hit Chuong Thi Kieu before rolling into the net with Quach Thu Em unable to react in time.
Urawa began the second half with the same intent and doubled their lead within six minutes when Yuzuho Shiokoshi put on the afterburners on the right before delivering a low cross for substitute Fuka Tsunoda to tap in.
Ho Chi Minh City did not give up without a fight, Meghan Root dragging a shot wide before Huynh Nhu’s speculative lob had Ino scrambling but the ball went over the bar.
However, that was as close as it got for the home side with Urawa keeping them at bay until the final whistle to secure a third straight win.
Source: AFC
