Facing an opponent ranked 126 places lower, Vietnam secured a commanding 6-0 lead in the first half and added another goal in the second. However, with better finishing, the home team could have replicated their previous resounding victories against the Maldives: 14-0 in the 2004 AFF Cup and 16-0 in the 2022 Asian Cup qualifiers.

In the post-match interview, coach Mai Duc Chung acknowledged his players' efforts but also expressed his dissatisfaction. "We wanted a strong performance to demonstrate our thorough preparation. However, the players missed numerous chances, including a penalty," Chung said. "At times in the second half, the team's intensity dropped, perhaps due to complacency with the scoreline. I expect the team to maintain focus and strive harder in the upcoming matches."

Defender Tran Thi Duyen (15) vies for the ball with a Maldives player during the 2026 Women's Asian Cup qualifiers on the evening of 29/6 at Viet Tri Stadium, Phu Tho. Photo: Minh Khue

Defender Tran Thi Duyen (15) vies for the ball with a Maldives player during the 2026 Women's Asian Cup qualifiers on the evening of 29/6 at Viet Tri Stadium, Phu Tho. Photo: Minh Khue

Chung opted to rest several key players, giving younger talents like Ngoc Minh Chuyen and Ngan Thi Van Su a chance to shine. Experienced players were introduced in the second half after a comfortable lead was established. Hai Yen scored the final goal to make it 7-0, while Huynh Nhu missed a penalty in the 94th minute.

According to Chung, the young players performed well, with Minh Chuyen showing significant improvement in her skills and meeting the coaching staff's expectations.

Women's football in the Maldives is underdeveloped, ranked 163rd globally and having never progressed past the Asian Cup qualifiers. At the 2014 Asian Games, they lost all group stage matches, conceding 38 goals.

Despite the 7-0 defeat, the Maldives players embraced each other in celebration. Their coach, Mohamed Athif, highlighted their efforts, noting that conceding only one goal in the second half demonstrated their resilience. "We came here to learn. We are proud to face a strong team like Vietnam – a team with top-class speed, technique, and overall quality in Southeast Asia. In my opinion, Vietnam is the strongest contender in this group," he stated.

The 2026 Women's Asian Cup qualifiers involve 34 teams across eight groups: two groups of five and six groups of four. The eight group winners advance to the 2026 Asian Cup finals. Vietnam is in Group E with the UAE, Guam, and the Maldives. The UAE poses the main challenge for the top spot. The matches are being held at Viet Tri Stadium in Phu Tho from 29/6 to 5/7.

The 2026 Asian Cup finals will feature host nation Australia and the top three teams from the 2022 Asian Cup: China, South Korea, and Japan. The top six teams in the finals will qualify for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil. The seventh and eighth-placed teams will compete in an inter-confederation play-off for Asia's seventh spot at the 2027 World Cup.

On 2/7, Vietnam will face the UAE at 7 p.m., while the Maldives will play Guam at 4 p.m.

Duc Dong