THE Philippines defended well in the first 12 minutes behind goalkeeper Samantha Hughes, but still fell in a 1-6 loss to Vietnam in the semifinals of the 2024 ASEAN Women’s Futsal Championship on Tuesday night at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.
Vietnam’s pressing and fast attacks proved too much as Tran Thi Lan Mai’s shot from a sharp angle went past Hughes for their first goal in the 13th-minute mark.
Eight minutes later, Vietnam skipper Trin Nguyen Thanh Hang headed the ball in for a 2-0 lead.
The Philippines sought to equalize after that and managed to score its lone goal in the 25th minute, behind Alisha Del Campo off a perfect pass from Hazel Lustan, to threaten, 1-2.
More attempts from the Philippines came, but the Filipinas turned the ball over several times with misplaced passes.
Vietnam sent in four more goals, with the third coming from Nguyen Phoang Anh, who cut inside the penalty area, flicking the ball past Catherine Graversen and Hughes for a 3-1 edge in the 26th.
Their fourth came from Lan Mai’s second goal that was headed in on the 28th.
The last two came from Tran Thi Thu Xuan with running shot on the 29th and from K’Thua K’Thua, who cut from the outside after a corner kick.
Vietnam’s win gave them three wins in as many matches and placed them on a collision course with Thailand in the finals.
