The Jakarta Scar and the Destiny Match of Vietnam Women's National Team

That night in Jakarta, August 2026, I sat in row twelve of the Gelora Bung Karno stands, close enough to see the trembling hand of a young woman placing the ball. The match between Vietnam women's national team and Taiwan (China) women's national team had ended goalless after one hundred and twenty minutes. Entering the penalty shootout, I remember bowing my head over my notebook, unable to watch. When I looked up, the penalty score read four to three in favor of the opponent, and one of our players in red collapsed onto the grass, both hands covering her face. The captain of Taiwan (China) women's team at that moment walked over, helped her up, and patted her shoulder. It was a beautiful gesture, but that image has haunted me for seven years now. People score goals with their feet, but I write with my scars.

Now, at ASIAD 2026, history stands before the chance to call its name a second time. Vietnam women's team and Taiwan (China) women's team have been drawn together in Group A alongside Japan and Nepal. With the overwhelming strength of Japan women's team, it is almost certain the team from the Land of the Rising Sun will secure one quarterfinal spot. The other spot in the group becomes a three-way battle between Vietnam, Taiwan (China), and Thailand. The opening match between Vietnam and Taiwan (China), therefore, carries life-or-death significance. A battle that cannot be lost.

I have spent many years following the tours of Vietnamese women's football. From friendly matches in Binh Duong, to SEA Games, Asian Cup tournaments, and long flights to East Asia. At fifty-four, I understand that stadium lights illuminate an entire life. And under those lights, the fate of a generation of women footballers is being decided by ninety minutes of rolling ball.

To understand why this match matters so much, we must look back at how Vietnamese women's football arrived here, and the traces left by coach Hoang Van Phuc's team before the ball rolls.

Context and Preparation Footprints

Vietnam women's team's preparation for this year's ASIAD has generated considerable debate among experts. The team was sent to China for training, based in Suzhou, which has weather conditions similar to the host cities of ASIAD. Coach Hoang Van Phuc told the press that the training camp was an opportunity for players to familiarize themselves with high-intensity competition, while building team cohesion before a grueling tournament.

During this camp, the team played two friendly matches. In the first, our girls defeated Jiangsu Suning club one to nil. This is a strong team in Chinese women's football, having featured in top continental club competitions for many years. This victory carried great spiritual significance, as it proved that Vietnam women's defense could stand firm against well-organized teams.

In the second match, the team lost to China women's team three to nil. This defeat was not unexpected, as China is one of the top women's teams in Asia, having finished as runners-up at the 2026 Women's World Cup. However, the manner of the defeat deserves analysis. I watched the match footage three times. What I noticed was not technical weakness, but a lack of coordination in maintaining team distance when under pressure. Our midfield exposed gaps between lines, and China women's team exploited this thoroughly. This is a lesson coach Hoang Van Phuc needs to address before facing Taiwan (China), because the opponent's style also relies on quick through balls into gaps between defense and midfield.

I recall an interview with a young player at Becamex Binh Duong in 2026. At that time, I wrote about how a boy grew up in an industrial zone, with parents working as laborers, and a goal as a promise to a small rented room. The article had no statistical columns, but received a call from the boy himself. Since then, I abandoned the habit of opening with scores, replacing it with an emotional detail or a raw sentence. That principle has stayed with me in this article. Because Vietnamese women's football does not need more dry reports. It needs to be told through what is happening in the minds of the girls about to step onto the pitch.

Vietnam women's squad this time is considered balanced between experience and youth. Veterans such as Huynh Nhu, Chuong Thi Kieu, Bui Thi Hai Yen remain pillars in coach Hoang Van Phuc's scheme. Alongside them, the maturity of young players like Ngan Thi Van Su, Duong Thi Van, and Tran Thi Duyen is opening up more diverse attacking options. Notably, during the Suzhou camp, coach Hoang Van Phuc tested various formations, from four-three-three to four-two-three-one. This flexibility suggests he is preparing for different match scenarios, depending on specific developments.

Looking Back at Head-to-Head History and Telling Numbers

Based on my experience following matches, the head-to-head history between Vietnam women's team and Taiwan (China) women's team is a breathlessly balanced story. The two teams have met ten times in the past, with five victories belonging to Vietnam, two draws, and three defeats. This figure shows an almost equal balance of power, with neither team truly dominant.

However, the concern lies in recent encounters. At the Women's Asian Cup in March 2026, Vietnam women's team lost to Taiwan (China) women's team one to nil. I was in the stands for that match. The goal came from a quick counterattack in the seventy-second minute, originating from a misplaced pass by Vietnam's midfield. At that moment, I wrote in my notebook: "They are not stronger than us, but they punish our mistakes better."

This is an assessment I believe remains valid for the upcoming match. Taiwan (China) women's football has an organized style, prioritizing defensive numbers and waiting for opportunities from transition phases. They do not need much possession to cause danger. Conversely, they are very good at turning small opponent mistakes into scoring chances.

I recall an afternoon in Binh Duong, sitting over coffee with a coach who had led domestic women's teams. He told me that Vietnamese women's football has a paradox: we produce players with good individual technique, but lack coldness in decisive moments. That is why we often lose matches in which we are the better team.

Looking back at the nil-one defeat in March, this was clearly demonstrated. Vietnam women's team controlled more possession, created more chances, but could not convert into goals. Meanwhile, Taiwan (China) women's team needed just one opportunity to score and preserve the lead until the end. The difference was not in fitness or technique, but in the ability to seize the moment.

In the 2026 ASIAD quarterfinal, the two teams drew nil-nil after one hundred and twenty minutes, and the penalty score was four to three in favor of Taiwan (China). Both recent matches followed similar scripts: Vietnam women's team played evenly or slightly better, but failed in key moments. This is a psychological issue that cannot be solved by tactical drills alone.

Tactical Analysis: Critical Weaknesses and Coach Hoang Van Phuc's Challenge

The upcoming match raises many tactical questions for Vietnam women's coaching staff. From what I have observed in friendly matches and past encounters, several weaknesses can be identified that Taiwan (China) women's team will try to exploit.

The first is counterattack resistance. Vietnam women's midfield tends to push high when attacking, creating large gaps behind the midfield line. This is precisely the area Taiwan (China) women's team exploits well. They have central midfielders capable of accurate long passes into empty zones, and forwards with good speed to break through. In the March Asian Cup defeat, our goal came exactly this way.

The second weakness lies in maintaining focus in the second half. Data I compiled myself from years of following Vietnam women's matches shows a concerning trend: most of our important goals conceded come in the final thirty minutes. As fitness declines, players often make positional errors and lose the ball in dangerous areas. Taiwan (China) women's team with their patient counterattacking style will certainly try to extend the match and wait for such mistakes.

The third weakness relates to chance conversion. In the friendly against China women's team, we had at least three clear chances but failed to convert. This problem has existed for years in Vietnamese women's football. Players like Huynh Nhu or Ngan Thi Van Su can create chances, but coldness inside the box remains absent. In a match where chances may come only once or twice, missing them could cost the entire tournament.

On Taiwan (China) women's side, their style is built on two main pillars: defensive discipline and quick transition ability. Their coach typically uses a four-four-two or four-two-three-one formation, with wingers tending to drop deep to support defense. When in possession, they transition very quickly, often needing only two or three passes to move the ball from their own half to dangerous positions. This style has caused Vietnam women's team many difficulties in recent encounters.

Taiwan (China) women's strengths also lie in set-piece exploitation. They have tall defenders who frequently join attacks on corners. In the 2026 ASIAD quarterfinal, they created at least four dangerous situations from corners. If Vietnam women's team does not improve set-piece defending, this could be the path to conceding.

Regarding Vietnam women's playing style, coach Hoang Van Phuc tends to build teams based on balance between attack and defense. In recent friendlies, he tested various personnel options, suggesting he is seeking the optimal combination of experience and youth. Notably, using Ngan Thi Van Su in a withdrawn forward position allows her to move freely and create decisive passes. This could be the key to breaking Taiwan (China)'s dense defense.

Another tactical option coach Hoang Van Phuc might consider is using more long balls. Taiwan (China) women's team tends to press in the middle area, so using through balls to fast forwards like Huynh Nhu could create surprise. However, this option requires high passing accuracy, which our midfield has not truly achieved in recent matches.

Contrarian Perspective: Do Not Let Memory Sanctify the Past

There is something I want to say directly, even if it may displease some fans. The head-to-head record of ten matches with five wins, two draws, and three losses against Taiwan (China) women's team no longer carries much meaning in the current context. Taiwan (China) women's football has changed significantly in recent years, and they arrive at this ASIAD with a more carefully prepared squad. Looking to the past for confidence could become a psychological trap.

People often say history favors us. But the two most important recent matches, at the 2026 ASIAD quarterfinal and the 2026 Asian Cup group stage, we did not win. Those were high-pressure matches, and we failed both. This is a truth that must be faced, not with fear, but with clarity.

Another contrarian angle I want to raise: did training in China truly bring advantage? We played two friendlies, including a heavy defeat against China women's team. That defeat could affect players' psychology, especially young ones. Meanwhile, Taiwan (China) women's team may have had a more stable preparation, without experiencing such heavy defeats.

At fifty-four, I have witnessed too many times Vietnamese football entering decisive matches as favorites, only to suffer bitter results. The German machine broke down, and I saw a generation weep without sound. At the 2026 World Cup in Russia, I witnessed Germany, the defending champion, lose to South Korea and be eliminated from the group stage. That is a lesson about how the past cannot protect the present. In football, memory is valuable only if it helps us learn lessons. If it makes us complacent, it becomes a burden.

So what is the right path for Vietnam women's team in the upcoming match? In my view, the most important thing is to approach the match with the mentality of a team searching for itself, rather than relying on the past. Forget the five wins in ten encounters. Forget the statistics. Focus on what happens on the pitch, and on what each player needs to do to win.

Psychological Turning Point and Destiny Moments

In football, there are matches where results are decided by moments that cannot be measured by data. A careless play, a referee's wrong decision, or simply a moment of individual brilliance. Vietnam women's team and Taiwan (China) women's team have gone through two recent matches with similar scripts: tense matches, decided by small details.

In the 2026 ASIAD quarterfinal, after one hundred and twenty goalless minutes, the penalty shootout decided everything. The score of four to three favored Taiwan (China). I sat in the stands and watched our players step up to the penalty spot. Their eyes said more than any statistic. Those were the eyes of people who knew opportunities were slipping from their grasp.

At the 2026 Asian Cup, the nil-one defeat unfolded with a different script but the same outcome. We created more chances, controlled more possession, but could not score. It is a familiar story of Vietnamese football in general: we can play evenly with many opponents, but lack sharpness in decisive moments.

This leads to an important question: can Vietnam women's team overcome this psychological barrier? The answer lies in how coach Hoang Van Phuc prepares players mentally. He needs to help them understand that the upcoming match is not a continuation of past failures, but a new opportunity. Each match is its own story, and past scars need not repeat.

I believe Vietnamese women's football has enough quality to overcome Taiwan (China) women's team. But quality alone is not enough. What is needed is confidence, focus, and the ability to stay cold in important moments. These are qualities that cannot be created through training drills alone.

About What Awaits Ahead

The match between Vietnam women's team and Taiwan (China) women's team at this ASIAD is not merely a group stage fixture. It is a battle for the future of Vietnamese women's football, for the careers of a generation of players, and for the faith of fans.

If they win, Vietnam women's team will take a long step in the race to the quarterfinals. But more importantly, that victory would be a psychological milestone, proving we can overcome equal opponents in decisive matches. If they lose, the path to the quarterfinals becomes extremely difficult, and pressure on coach Hoang Van Phuc and his students will multiply.

I have spent most of my life writing about football. From local radio stations in Binh Duong, to Olympic Games, World Cups, and major European cycling races. But perhaps Vietnamese women's football matches are the ones that move me most. Because there, I see girls from poor villages, from working-class families, trying to write their own stories with bare feet and a heart that never gives up.

The ball rolls on the grass, but really it rolls through human fate. Every touch of their ball carries an entire youth sacrificed for football. Every goal is an affirmation that those difficult years were not meaningless. And every defeat is a pain I cannot express in numbers.

The stadium is empty, but applause still lingers somewhere in memory. I still remember packed stands at SEA Games, cheers when Vietnam women's team scored, and silent moments when the home team lost. Those are the sounds of a nation searching for itself in a round ball.

In the upcoming match, I will again sit in the stands, with my notebook and pen. I will not record numbers. I will record glances, runs, sweat, and tears. Because that is how football is truly written, in unforgettable moments.

The question for Vietnam women's team is not whether they have enough talent to beat Taiwan (China) women's team. The real question is whether they have enough courage to step over the scars of the past, to play a match with all focus and determination, unhaunted by past failures. That is the greatest challenge, and also the greatest opportunity.

Time will tell. But one thing is certain: whatever the result, our girls deserve to be remembered. Not for victories or defeats, but for what they have contributed to a sport that in Vietnam still faces too many difficulties and shortages.

Tonight, before sleeping, I will read my old notes about the match in Jakarta in 2026. I will recall the image of the girl kneeling on the pitch, both hands covering her face. And I will tell myself that seven years later, things can be different. Scars can heal. Dreams can come true. And Vietnam women's team can write a new page in their history.

That is my belief. And that is why I will keep writing, until the scars no longer hurt.