Vietnam women lose 0-3 to China: Coach Hoang Van Phuc calls it a useful test for the 2026 Asian Games

The scoreboard showed 0-3, but Vietnam women's head coach Hoang Van Phuc was not talking about defeat. In the post-match press conference after the friendly against China, he praised the first-half display and insisted the match was very useful for the team's preparation ahead of the 2026 Asian Games. In the context of the tournament in Japan, Hoang Van Phuc's outlook was reasonable. Vietnam were drawn in a difficult group with hosts Japan, Chinese Taipei and Thailand. China are exactly the type of opponent with superior physique, speed, strength and technique, close to the strongest teams Vietnam will face in the group stage. Therefore, the coaching staff treated this game as a chance to test the defensive system against a continental powerhouse, rather than chasing a consolation victory. The first half reflected what Hoang Van Phuc expected. Vietnam sat in a compact low block, with two defensive lines keeping very close distances. The players continuously closed down the space between midfield and defence, forcing China to struggle despite enjoying most of the possession. Attacks were regularly stopped before reaching the penalty area. In contrast, whenever Vietnam won the ball, they quickly transitioned forward and used their fast attackers. They created a few clear counter-attacking chances but failed to convert. That was the only negative in an otherwise encouraging half. The second half was a completely different story. China pushed higher and used passes in behind Vietnam's back line. In the 48th minute, the first goal came after a quick combination down the flank, where Vietnamese defenders could not keep up with the Chinese forwards. Ten minutes later, another defensive error inside the box allowed China to double the lead. Two goals conceded early in the second half highlighted the recurring issues of fatigue and concentration after the break. Hoang Van Phuc introduced fresh faces such as Hoang Thi Loan and Duong Thi Van to test his squad. The substitutes added some energy, but a lack of defensive cohesion led to a third goal. In the 85th minute, Vietnam thought they had scored a consolation goal, but the referee ruled it out for offside. That situation proved Vietnam's quick counter-attacks can still cause danger if executed with greater precision. No detailed statistics such as xG, PPDA or possession share were published, but the gap between the two teams went beyond the scoreline. China were superior in physical duels and close-control skills. Vietnam's defensive approach was logical, yet once their energy dropped, the team shape lost its compactness. The midfield became stretched, passes were easily read, and aerial balls became too difficult for a defence lacking height. This is a familiar issue whenever Vietnam face physically stronger Asian opponents. From a counter-intuitive perspective, a 0-3 defeat can be more valuable than an easy win against a weaker side. Had Vietnam only played teams of a similar level, they would not have discovered their real limits. The match against China exposed exactly when the team struggled, which areas were vulnerable and what needs to be improved before the tournament. Hoang Van Phuc did not hide those problems. He used the defeat to send a message: the squad is still in a testing phase, and any errors now should be corrected before the real competition begins. Vietnam women first appeared at a World Cup in 2026, but compared with China – a side with multiple Asian Cup titles and regular World Cup appearances – the gap in pedigree remains enormous. Therefore, the 0-3 loss was no great shock to experts. The real concern is how the team handles difficult moments, especially after the 60th minute. Against Thailand and Chinese Taipei, who are compact and physically fit, Vietnam cannot afford repeated lapses in concentration. The biggest challenge for Hoang Van Phuc is not beating Japan, because the quality gap is simply too large. The more important question is whether his players can sustain their intensity for the full 90 minutes against Thailand and Chinese Taipei. In this group, the opening match against Chinese Taipei on September 14 is likely to prove decisive. If fitness remains the weak point as it was in the second half against China, Vietnam's journey at the 2026 Asian Games will become very difficult. The friendly ended with an unfavourable scoreline, but its real value lies in the lessons about stamina, focus and transitional play. The coaching staff must turn those second-half weaknesses into clear adjustments before the tournament. The answer will only become clear in Japan, where the 2026 Asian Games truly begins and where Vietnam women's football must prove its progress.