Defender Van Thi Thanh celebrates after scoring the opener in Vietnam’s 7-0 victory over Hong Kong at HCMC Thanh Long Stadium Wednesday

Vietnamese women footballers have won a berth in the 2010 Asian Cup final after beating Hong Kong and Kyrgyzstan to top Group C.

The home team coach Chen Yun Fat continued to use all his favorites in the starting line-up after the first win while the players from Hong Kong had only striker Fung Kam Mui in the front.

The visitors tried to concede as few goals as possible, so they crowded in front of their goalkeeper Fong Kit Lun. However, the defense was cracked in less than 10 minutes.

The Vietnamese women scored the opener in the eighth minute after Ngoc Cham headed a Kim Hong cross from the right flank to an unmarked defender, Van Thi Thanh, who made no mistake in turning it into a goal.

The first goal was followed by more attacks from both flanks. The home team doubled the score after playmaker Minh Nguyet made a neat pass to Kim Hong who sent in a cross to leading striker Cham, who slipped it past Hong Kong goalkeeper Lun again.

Thanh scored her third goal halfway through the first half and Cham scored the fourth goal for the home team before halftime after Lun failed to stop a shot from Kim Chi.

Substitutes Le Thi Oanh, Nguyen Thi Muon and Nguyen Hai Hoa were used but the home team continued to keep Hong Kong under constant pressure and scored three more goals by Chi, Cham and Muon.

Coach Fat said, “The players concentrated and played well in the two wins over Kyrgyzstan and Hong Kong. They strictly complied with the coaching staff’s strategies. In the first place, it brings happiness.

“What is important in the coming time is that the Vietnamese women need to improve their fitness and strength to bring home more happiness from the Southeast Asian championship and the 25th Southeast Asian Games,” the Chinese tactician added.

After Wednesday’s win, Vietnam Football Federation Chairman Nguyen Trong Hy and General Secretary Tran Quoc Tuan said VFF would award VND300 million (US$16,800) to the female players.

The players will return to their clubs today and get together again early in September.

Reported by Quang Huy