Indian journalist admits home team was lucky against Vietnam, praises Van Su and coach Mai Duc Chung

Indian journalist Anirudh Menon stated that coach Amelia Valverde's squad encountered good fortune in their game versus the Vietnamese women's national team.

On the evening of March 4, the Vietnamese women's national team defeated India 2-1 thanks to a brace from Van Su in their opening match of the 2026 Women's Asian Cup group stage, a tournament that serves as a qualifier for the Women's World Cup.

Indian ESPN journalist Anirudh Menon commented on this match and was impressed by the performance of the Vietnamese women's national team. After Van Su scored the opening goal in the 30th minute, Menon acknowledged: "Oh my, that was a masterpiece from Van Su. What a classy goal! Bich Thuy's brilliant movement was the key. She quietly slipped behind Martina unnoticed, managed to touch the ball back to Thi Thao, who acted as a wall, setting it up perfectly for Van Su. The winger leaned in and unleashed a perfect curler beyond the desperate reach of goalkeeper Panthoi. A beautiful one-touch finish."

The Vietnamese women's national team secured a 2-1 victory over the Indian women's national team

After the first half ended with the Vietnamese women's national team leading 1-0, Anirudh Menon noted: "The score is 1-0 for the Vietnamese women's national team, and the Indian women's national team was somewhat fortunate to have conceded only one goal. Nguyen Thi Bich Thuy tore through the Indian defense with excellent curved runs behind, around, and even right in front of the back four. Meanwhile, Huynh Nhu gradually found her rhythm in the match and quietly became extremely dangerous whenever she had the ball at her feet."

Anirudh Menon praised coach Mai Duc Chung's tactical setup: "Vietnam women's national team's 5-4-1 formation theoretically seemed defensive, but in practice, it was one of the most flexible and dynamic systems I've seen. The Indian women's national team had almost no answer, aside from occasionally pushing their defensive line high to try to catch Bich Thuy offside and relying on the solidity of Panthoi Chanu in goal."

"On the attacking front, the Indian women's national team had only one bright moment from Manisha Kalyan with a through pass, along with one on-target shot from Sangita Basfore, which was easily saved by goalkeeper Tran Thi Kim Thanh. Amelia Valverde will need more from her players if they want to trouble the Vietnamese women's national team in the remaining 45 minutes," emphasized Anirudh Menon.

The ESPN writer expressed excitement when Van Su scored to make it 2-1 in the 90+4th minute: "Oh, that was truly a thrilling play by the Vietnamese women's national team right at the death. The ball was switched across the field with an excellent initiating pass from Cu Thi Huynh Nhu and Nirmala let the ball run behind her. Vu Thi Hoa sprinted down behind the defense, then delivered a precise cross for Van Su. The goalscorer kept her composure at the decisive moment, firing a shot through Martina's legs and beating a completely helpless Panthoi."

A finish of pure class. Scoring the opener with her right foot and the second with her left, Ngan Thi Van Su delivered a painful blow to the Indian national team."

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