Unexpected decision of Vietnam women's team

On the evening of December 8, goalkeeper Tran Thi Kim Thanh was confirmed to be the starting goalkeeper for the match against the Philippines women's team despite the doctor's objection.

Kim Thanh played despite injury. Photo: Minh Chien .

According to Tri Thuc - Znews , goalkeeper Kim Thanh suffered a muscle injury during a training session in Thailand, unrelated to a collision with a teammate. The injury came quite suddenly, forcing her to sit out the opening match of the 33rd SEA Games against Malaysia on December 5.

Over the past few days, the number one goalkeeper of the Vietnamese women's team has been closely monitored by the medical team, mainly doing light rehabilitation exercises and almost not participating in heavy physical exercises. The initial opinion of the doctors was cautious, assessing that Kim Thanh was not really ready to compete.

However, in the technical meeting before the crucial match with the Philippines, the coaching staff made a risky decision to let Kim Thanh return to guard the goal. The reason came from experience, competitive spirit and the ability to command the defense - factors considered "strategic assets" at decisive moments.

In the opening match, Khong Thi Hang completed her task with an excellent clean sheet in a resounding 7-0 victory over Malaysia. However, the Philippines were a much better team, forcing the coaching staff to prioritize safety and defensive organization.

Apart from Kim Thanh, the other players are in good shape. The team's morale is high after a favorable start. Coach Mai Duc Chung and his team clearly understand that the match at 6:30 p.m. on December 8 will be decisive for their ticket to the semi-finals. The goal of the Vietnamese women's team is to win all 3 points to quickly decide the situation in Group B.

Source: https://znews.vn/quyet-dinh-bat-ngo-cua-tuyen-nu-viet-nam-post1609537.html