VietNamNet Bridge – Viet Nam secured a semi-final berth after a 6-0 win over Laos at the Southeast Asian Women’s Football Championship at HCM City’s Thanh Long Sport Centre yesterday.

Viet Nam kicked off scoring just four minutes into it thanks to a goal by Phan Thanh Binh. (Photo: BD)

This recent win makes four wins in a row for Viet Nam at this championship.

Last week, Viet Nam beat Myanmar 3-1 before crushing Malaysia 11-0 and Indonesia 4-0.

Viet Nam, who took the championship at the Southeast Asian Games in 2001, 2003 and 2005, hope to cruise all the way to the finals.

Among the team’s major rivals, Thailand have improved considerably over the last two years, with a 5-0 win over Viet Nam in the Beijing Olympics qualifier in Thailand - the ASEAN Women’s Football Championships last year.

Chinese coach Chen Yun Fat has a lot of work ahead of him before the semi-final game against powerhouse Thailand tomorrow.

Viet Nam stun Myanmar

The Viet Nam Olympic team beat Myanmar 3-1 in the Group A opener at the 40th Merdeka Cup at Shah Alam Stadium in Malaysia yesterday.

Viet Nam, who finished a 10-day training session in China, kicked off scoring just four minutes into it thanks to a goal by Phan Thanh Binh. Myamnar’s Zaw Htet Aung levelled the score one minute before the break.

Four minutes after the second half time, Hoang Dinh Tung brought the score to 2-1 before Nguyen Duc Thien sealed the deal with a goal in the 73rd minute.

Viet Nam play against rivals from Myanmar, Mozambique and Bangladesh, while hosts Malaysia meet Sierra Leone, Afghanistan and Nepal in Group B.

The winning team will receive US$10,000, while the runners-up will get $5,000.

After the cup, Viet Nam will play a friendly game against former Brazilian stars including Paulo Sergio, Ze Carlos and Cesar Sampaio at HCM City’s Thong Nhat Stadium on October 31.

The team will also compete in the Grand Royal Challenge in Myanmar and the International Binh Duong Television Cup next month.

(Source: Viet Nam News)