Vietnamese and US players greet each other before the match on July 22. (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) - The Vietnamese team’sbrave performance won the hearts of Vietnamese fans everywhere, despitelosing 0-3 to the reigning world champions US in their first group match in Auckland,New Zealand, on July 22.
Two goals scored by Sophia Smith in the first half and another by captain Lindsey Horan in the second half sealed the US’s victory.
However, ascoach Mai Duc Chung said before the match: "It's not about the result, butthe way we play, the mentality against an opponent at this magnitude," andthe Golden Star Women Warriors’ brave performance won the hearts of Vietnamese fanseverywhere.
Tran Thi KimThanh, Vietnam's goalkeeper, was perhaps the embodiment of that spirit. The1.65m keeper saved a penalty from Alex Morgan, one of the greats of the women'sgame.
A save by Vietnamese goalkeeper Tran Thi Kim Thanh in the match against the US on July 22. (Photo: VNA)FIFA alsopraised Thanh’s performance. “Tran Thi Kim Thanh take a bow. The Vietnamese keeperhas had a sensational first half and now saves an Alex Morgan penalty on thestroke of half-time!” the world football governing body wrote on its Twitter.
Many changeswere made to the starting line-up by Chung after Vietnam's 0-9 loss to Spain onJuly 14. Duong Thi Van, nicknamed "Van Kanté" for her immensecoverage and control of midfield, was benched after a head collision withteammate Pham Hai Yen in training.
Fans evencame all the way from Hai Phong to Auckland to support the women in red. Athome, the New Zealand and Australian Embassies hosted a "Breakfast WatchParty" for fans to watch the game in Hanoi.
With all ofthat support, Vietnam started strong in the first 10 minutes, denying chancesby Lindsey Horan and her teammates.
Nguyen Thi Tuyet Dung (7) of Vietnam and Trinity Rodman (20) of the US vie for the ball. (Photo: AFP/VNA)But in the14th minute, the US found their breakthrough when Alex Morgan's through ballfound 22-year-old Sophia Smith free, and she scored with a low driven shot thatwent through Kim Thanh's legs.
After thegoal, Vlatko Andonovski's girls turned on the pressure with shot after shot,but Kim Thanh's heroics spared Vietnam.
Thanh wastremendously good in this game, but when the keeper was the best player on thefield, it's never a good indicator.
In the 39thminute, Hoang Thi Loan made a challenge and Trinity Rodman went down inside thebox.
Moroccanreferee Bouchra Karboubi had to check VAR, and after she saw that Loan's foottouched the legs of Dennis Rodman's daughter before the ball, Karboubi pointedat the spot.
Alex Morgan,a two-time World Cup winner, took the responsibility, but her shot was low andsaved by Kim Thanh. The Vietnamese players rushed to Thanh later to celebrate,as if they had scored a goal against the World No.1.
The joy wasshort-lived, however, as in the 6th minute of added time, the US got theirsecond goal courtesy of Smith. The goal was deemed offside at first, but VARled Karboubi to reverse the decision. The US led 2-0 before the break.
The Vietnamese players pose for a photo with fans behind them. (Photo: VNA)The secondhalf started with the US continuing their domination. Numerous chances came forAndonovski's team, and one even forced Kim Thanh to make a stunning triplesave.
Vietnam'sdefence was perhaps stronger in the second half, and even got chances tocounter, but the difference in skills and strength denied Huynh Nhu and herteammates even a clear cut chance at Alyssa Naeher's goal.
In the 77thminute, a rare mistake from Chuong Thi Kieu was capitalised by Smith, whopassed to Horan for a tap into the empty net which made it 3-0 for the US.
Andonovskibrought on Rose Lavelle and Megan Rapinoe in the final minutes, hoping to scoremore goals to take advantage before meeting Holland in their next match in this"Group of Death", but both Rapinoe and Lavelle squandered theirchances.
Even withnine minutes added on, no further goals were scored and the match ended 3-0 forthe US.
The game is broadcast live at Times Square in New York, the US. (Photo: VNA)"Wekept our promises to the fans," said coach Chung after the match. "Iam happy because of the team's mentality and how we stuck to our game plantoday."
“We have notplayed at World Cup before. But now, the whole world heard Vietnam’s national anthem.That is the honour and pride,” he said.
"Everyminute of that game was fun and the crowd was amazing," said Player of theGame Sophia Smith, who scored a brace on her debut.
"Wecould have scored more goals, but it's the World Cup and not everything isperfect," Smith added.
The US’scoach Vlatko Andonovski also commended the Vietnamese team and thetactics of coach Mai Duc Chung, saying that Vietnam had played very well and causeda lot of difficulties for the US squad.
Vietnam willhave five days to recover before facing Portugal on July 27. The US, on theother hand, will play against Holland next in a rematch of the 2019 Women'sWorld Cup Final./.
