A superbly taken brace from Ngan Thi Van Su, the second coming late in second half injury time saw Vietnam beat India 2-1 in a game that they probably ought to have won by a bigger margin.
They were utterly dominant in the first half and took a deserved lead on the half hour mark though a sublime curler from Van Su as she ran onto a through ball from Thai Thi Thao and curled it past Panthoi Chanu in the India goal. The goal, much like most of Vietnam's chances in the first 45, was made by a superb blindside run by striker Nguyen Thi Bich Thuy as Vietnam's fluid 5-4-1 wreaked havoc with India's more standard 4-2-3-1.
India coach Amelia Valverde rang in the changes in the second, bringing on youngsters Sanfida Nongrum and Rimpa Haldar at halftime and India looked immediately the better for it. It was a Rimpa-led press that led to a hurried backpass that was seized on by debutant Sanfida in the 52nd minute and she cooly lifted the finish past Vietnam keeper Tran Thi Kim Thanh.
The match then see-sawed a bit till Vietnam started pushing the squeeze on in the last quarter of an hour. That eventually led to the second goal after sub Vu Thi Hoa was played in behind on the left flank and she squared it to Van Su who finished brilliantly with her left foot from close range, and under much pressure.
You can relive all the action from the match right here:
