Vietnam draw 2-2 with Thailand in AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup opener
VOV.VN - Vietnam battled to a thrilling 2-2 draw against Thailand in their Group A opener at the AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup 2026 on May 1, with a dramatic equaliser deep into stoppage time.
Entering the match with a cautious approach, head coach Okiyama Masahiko’s side focused on defensive stability in the early minutes. However, Thailand quickly took control and created several dangerous chances. In the 27th minute, Mirika Sheila Murdoch opened the scoring for the Thai side with a composed finish inside the box.
Refusing to back down, Vietnam pushed forward and found the equaliser in the 34th minute through a superb free kick by Phan Thi Thu Phuong. Just before halftime, Thailand regained the lead as Thidawan capitalised on another attacking move, sending her team into the break ahead.
In the second half, Vietnam increased attacking pressure in search of another goal but struggled to break through Thailand’s well-organised defence. As the match edged into stoppage time and defeat seemed imminent, Nguyen Thi Thanh Lam delivered a decisive strike to secure a 2-2 draw for Vietnam.
After the match, coach Okiyama praised his players’ determination.
“Vietnam never gave up until the final minute. We ran more than our opponents. Some Thai players suffered cramps late in the game, but my players did not,” he said.
The Japanese coach added that the team will focus on recovery and preparation for their next crucial match against China on May 4.
“We will adjust our approach to match the level of the opponents,” he noted, while expressing hope for continued support from fans.
The AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup 2026 features 12 teams divided into three groups, with the top two teams from each group and the two best third-placed teams advancing to the quarterfinals.
Vietnam play in Group A alongside Thailand, Myanmar, and hosts China, and still have strong chances of progressing. According to the AFC, the four semifinalists will qualify as Asia’s representatives for the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup 2026 in Morocco.
Vietnam secures playoff spot for AFC Champions League Elite 2026–27
VOV.VN - Vietnamese football has been allocated a playoff slot for the AFC Champions League Elite following the Asian Football Confederation’s official confirmation of slot distributions for the 2026–27 season.
