Vietnam edge Bangladesh 1-0 to keep quarterfinal hopes alive
VOV.VN - Vietnam secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Bangladesh in their final Group A match at the 2026 AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup on April 7, keeping their hopes of reaching the quarterfinals alive.
Entering the decisive clash on April 7, Vietnam showed early intent under head coach Okiyama Masahiko but struggled to make an immediate breakthrough.
Vietnam nearly made an early impact in the opening minute when captain Luu Hoang Van burst down the right flank, but her final cross failed to create a clear scoring opportunity.
Bangladesh threatened in the 13th minute with a dangerous one-on-one situation, only for goalkeeper Le Thi Thu to produce a crucial save to keep the score level.
Vietnam gradually took control of possession and created more chances as the half progressed. However, attempts from Hoang Van, Thi Quy and Thanh Hieu lacked precision, leaving the match goalless at halftime.
The second half followed a similar pattern, with Vietnam maintaining pressure. The breakthrough finally came in the 48th minute following an error by the Bangladesh goalkeeper.
From a set-piece situation, Thuy Linh reacted quickest inside the box to slot home from close range and give Vietnam the lead.
Despite controlling the game after going ahead, Vietnam continued to struggle with finishing, missing several clear opportunities to extend their advantage.
At the other end, Vietnam’s defence remained disciplined and well-organised, limiting Bangladesh to few meaningful chances in the second half.
The 1-0 victory earned Vietnam their first three points after three matches, placing them third in Group A.
While the result does not guarantee progression, it keeps Vietnam’s quarterfinal hopes alive, with the team now awaiting results in other matches to determine their fate in the tournament.