However, circumstances seemed to work against Vietnam in this match. Referee Durcau Rebecca (Australia) made several questionable decisions, frustrating the Vietnamese players and allowing the Philippines to gain momentum.

The Vietnamese women's team entered the final on the evening of 17/12 at Chonburi stadium as the dominant force in SEA Games football, having secured 8 gold medals, including a record four consecutive titles.

Beyond defending their championship, they were determined to "settle the score" after a bitter 0-1 loss in the group stage. In that match, Vietnam was denied a penalty despite a Philippines player's handball in the box, before conceding a goal in the fourth minute of stoppage time.

From the outset, coach Mai Duc Chung instructed his players to proactively attack, using quick, short passes to exploit the Philippines' defense.

Defensively, Hoang Thi Loan and her teammates maintained close pressure, supporting each other to form two defensive layers. This strategy aimed to intercept long balls from a distance, which were a dangerous weapon for the Philippines due to their height and physical prowess.

True to the Vietnam women's team's nickname "Border Cyclone", Nguyen Thi Thanh Nha tirelessly operated on the left wing, balancing offense and defense throughout the match.

Captain Pham Hai Yen consistently started and displayed her leadership role for Vietnam at this year's SEA Games. At 31 years old, her endurance and excellent game reading skills helped the Hanoi native score four goals.

Center-back Tran Thi Thu was substituted in at the start of the second half and played well. However, in the penalty shootout, fate chose her as the one to miss, preventing her from bringing home a gold medal for her newborn child.

A notable incident involved midfielder Cu Thi Huynh Nhu legally shielding the ball, only to have a Philippines player stomp on her foot in retaliation, a foul ignored by the referee.

Despite her delicate appearance, Tran Thi Duyen played with intensity. In her debut SEA Games appearance, she established herself as a reliable defensive anchor on the right flank.

Whenever a challenge or pressure was needed, midfielder Tran Hai Linh showed no hesitation, despite the physical disparity compared to the Philippines' goalkeeper.

Coach Mai Duc Chung praised his players for their dedication, tactical adherence, and effective defense against long balls, while acknowledging that their attack lacked luck.

Goalkeeper Tran Kim Thanh also delivered a brave performance. In the penalty shootout, she dived in the correct direction four times, even touching the ball on occasion, but it was not enough to secure victory for the team.

Though they could not defend their gold medal, the players' persistent and resilient efforts earned the praise of their fans.

"They are true warriors," shared fan Thanh Duy, who traveled from Ha Noi to Thailand to support the team, with VnExpress. "We appreciate the girls' contributions and will continue to support them in every tournament."

Today, the Vietnam women's team will return home on two flights. One group will arrive in TP HCM, while the other will land in Ha Noi.

Duc Dong