Hai Yen scores as Vietnam women's team beats Jiangsu women's club in friendly

On a closed training ground in China, the opening whistle echoed like a promise. The Vietnam women's national team stepped into a friendly against Jiangsu women's club with both the coaching staff and fans eyeing a bigger goal: ASIAD 2026. No packed stands, no media pressure, only passes, tackles, and a tactical puzzle awaiting a solution. From the opening minutes, coach Hoang Van Phuc made his intentions clear. He kept the lineup intact for the entire first 60 minutes, not to chase a scoreline but to test tactical execution. Vietnam women's team deliberately played a low block, packing bodies in their own half and sealing every space in front of the box. This was not the approach of a fearful underdog, but the calculation of a coaching staff preparing for far stronger opponents on the continental stage. In the 14th minute, from a rapid transition after winning the ball, Hai Yen broke through and finished calmly to open the scoring. A goal that came exactly from the script the coaching staff wanted: tight defense, waiting for opponent errors, and punishing with speed. The match's heartbeat then slowed, not out of boredom but because Vietnam women's team had taken control. They didn't need to push forward relentlessly, didn't need to take risks, just needed to keep a clean sheet and preserve the advantage. In the second half, coach Hoang Van Phuc initiated a personnel revolution. From the 61st to the 87th minute, 10 players were brought on in succession. This was not chaotic shuffling but a deliberate examination. Every position, every individual was tested while the match remained under control. Every pass, every touch was a signal to the coaching staff ahead of finalizing the ASIAD squad. The match ended 1-0, a result just enough to build confidence, just enough to avoid creating illusions of strength. The most notable aspect of this friendly is not the scoreline. Vietnam women's team showed a defensive structure that operated smoothly in the first 60 minutes, with distances between lines kept at reasonable levels and covering runs executed in rhythm. But the big question remains: can this approach withstand the pressure of China women's national team on September 9? That will be the real test, where every tactical gap is exposed. The reliance on Hai Yen for goals is a point of concern. Against stronger opponents, chances will be fewer, and if Hai Yen is marked out, who will step up? The coaching staff needs to find alternative attacking options in the remaining friendlies. Beating a club team is not an accurate measure of ASIAD ambitions, but it is the first brick. The match against China women's team will be the most honest mirror, where every weakness becomes visible and any excessive confidence is extinguished. At 62, I have seen too many teams celebrate friendly wins only to crash at official tournaments. This victory is worth noting, but not worth celebrating. Vietnam women's team is on the right track, but the road is long. ASIAD does not tolerate complacency, and the lessons from this friendly must be converted into data, into adjustments, not into satisfaction.