The Vietnamese women's team and the task of winning.

A 0-1 defeat to the Philippines in injury time has put the Vietnamese women's team in a difficult position. From being the defending champions, the Vietnamese women's team now faces the possibility of being eliminated from the group stage of the SEA Games 33.

The Vietnamese women's team must win against Myanmar - Photo: NAM TRAN

Therefore, they must defeat Myanmar to secure their place in the semi-finals in the match at 4 PM today (December 11th, broadcast live onFPT PLAY) at Chonburi Stadium.

Take control of self-determination.

Currently, Myanmar leads Group B with 6 points and a goal difference of +4. The Vietnamese women's team is second with 3 points (goal difference +6). Following them is the Philippines with the same 3 points but a goal difference of 0. Malaysia is at the bottom of the table with no points. According to the regulations, when two or more teams have the same number of points, goal difference is the first tie-breaking criterion considered to determine the ranking. Therefore, the Vietnamese women's team still holds its fate in its own hands.

To secure a place in the semi-finals, the "diamond girls" must defeat Myanmar. If they win all three points, Vietnam will have the same six points as their opponent but will definitely rank higher due to a superior goal difference. However, whether the Vietnamese team will win the group will also depend on the result of the simultaneous match between the Philippines and Malaysia.

In theory, the Vietnamese women's team could still advance if they draw or even lose to Myanmar. Specifically, if they draw with Myanmar, Vietnam needs the Philippines not to win against Malaysia. In the worst-case scenario of a loss, we would have to hope the Philippines also lose to Malaysia.

However, given Malaysia's weakness, expecting them to stop the Philippines is impossible. The Philippines are almost certain to win, possibly by a large margin to improve their goal difference. Therefore, the Vietnamese women's team must win against Myanmar.

Thanh Nhã (in red) is the spearhead of the Vietnamese women's national team - Photo: NAM TRẦN

A tough match

The challenge lies with the Myanmar women's team, which is undergoing a significant transformation thanks to a comprehensive youth development strategy. They arrive at the SEA Games 33 armed with a high-quality training camp in Japan and the runner-up finish in the recent Southeast Asian U23 Championship. Their convincing 2-1 victory against the Philippines is clear evidence of their strength.

The Myanmar team is a blend of youth and experience, led by captain Win Theingi Tun (30 years old). Most notably, 22-year-old striker May Htet Lu, who plays in the US, is a key player. With his intelligent positioning and sharp finishing, May Htet Lu has scored in both of their recent matches and will pose a constant threat to goalkeeper Kim Thanh's goal.

Conversely, the absence of center-back Chương Thị Kiều leaves Vietnam's defense vulnerable, as the new center-backs haven't yet developed optimal chemistry. Furthermore, the burden of age is weighing heavily on key players like captain Huỳnh Như (34 years old), Hải Yến, and Bích Thùy (both 31 years old). Despite their best efforts, they struggle to maintain their stamina against the tenacious and powerful style of play of their younger opponents.

Nevertheless, the fighting spirit of a champion is the weapon that the Vietnamese women's team possesses. Midfielder Bich Thuy also affirmed that the whole team will play with more than 100% effort to squeeze through the narrow gap. A victory against Myanmar, while difficult, is entirely possible for the Vietnamese girls.

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THANH DINH (from Thailand)

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/tuyen-nu-viet-nam-va-nhiem-vu-phai-thang-20251210235200942.htm