Vietnam Women's Team Lose 0-3 to China but Find the Most Important Lesson Ahead of Asian Games 2026

In the 85th minute, the ball landed in China’s net after a swift counter-attack by Vietnam’s women’s team. The celebration was cut short by the offside flag. The score remained 0-3. Coach Hoang Van Phuc stood calmly on the touchline, taking notes rather than protesting. For me, that moment said more than the goals conceded: this match was never about the result, but about exposing the issues that must be fixed before the 2026 Asian Games. Vietnam lost 0-3 to China in a friendly, but the first half offered encouraging signs of defensive organisation. The team sat in a compact block, moved as a unit and created one or two counter-attacks. The second half, however, exposed physical and transitional weaknesses as China scored two goals around the 48th and 58th minutes. A late disallowed goal in the 85th minute showed Vietnam’s potential in transition. Coach Hoang Van Phuc praised the first-half structure and called the game “very useful” preparation for the Asian Games. Vietnam will face Chinese Taipei on September 14 in their group opener, with matches against Japan and Thailand to follow.