Ho Chi Minh City booked their place in the knockout round after a 2-0 win over Lion City Sailors.

Ho Chi Minh City Women's Club had a performance full of effort and courage when defeating Lion City Sailors with a score of 2-0, thereby winning second place in Group A and officially winning a ticket to the knockout round of the 2025/2026 AFC Women's Club Championship.

The girls of Ho Chi Minh City Women's Club won an important victory. (Photo: VFF)

Before entering the final match on the evening of September 16, coach Doan Thi Kim Chi and her team were under more pressure when Melbourne City beat Stallion Laguna 7-0 to advance early. That forced Ho Chi Minh City to win all three points if they wanted to decide their own fate.

Although rated higher, the Vietnamese team encountered many difficulties against Lion City, a disciplined and physically strong opponent with a group of experienced foreign players from Japan.

In the first half, Ho Chi Minh City controlled the ball better but lacked sharpness in decisive situations. The most notable effort was the shot that hit the crossbar in injury time, but it was still not enough to open the score.

Entering the second half, the home team continued to exert attacking pressure. Many opportunities were created, but Lion City goalkeeper Shakira played excellently, blocking a series of dangerous shots from Ho Chi Minh City players. The deadlock was only broken in the 85th minute, when Bao Chau took advantage of a mistake by the opponent's defense to score the opening goal, relieving the pressure on the whole team.

Not stopping there, the girls of Ho Chi Minh City continued to organize attacks, looking for a goal to ensure safety. In the 90+3 minute, K'Thua quickly rushed in to finish, sealing a 2-0 victory, and at the same time ending a match full of efforts by coach Doan Thi Kim Chi and her team. This result helped Ho Chi Minh City finish second in Group A, thereby winning the right to enter the knockout round of the tournament.

Line-up

Lion City Sailors: Shakira, Jia Xing, Umairah, Syazwan, Shibusawa, Khairunnisa, Dhaniyah (Dorcas 72'), Irsalina (Salleh 62'), Kitagawa, Raeka, Takeuchi.

Ho Chi Minh City: Kim Thanh, Gorman, Goodwill, Thu Thao, Bao Chau, Thuy Trang (Yoshida 39'; Hoai Luong 80'), Mason (Cu Thi Huynh Nhu 46'), Phan Thi Trang (K'Thua 70'), Tuyet Ngan (Hong Nhung 84'), Ouni (Kim Yen 46'), Huynh Nhu.

HUY AN

Source: https://nhandan.vn/thanh-pho-ho-chi-minh-gianh-ve-vao-vong-knock-out-sau-chien-thang-2-0-lion-city-sailors-post923585.html