HAI PHONG (12 August 2025) – Vietnam advanced to the semi-finals of the ASEAN Women’s MSIG Serenity Cup™ 2025 as Group A winners on Tuesday as Trần Thị Thu Thảo’s solitary strike earned the hosts a 1-0 win over Thailand at Lạch Tray Stadium, with Futoshi Ikeda’s side also progressing.
Thu Thảo struck in the 36th minute in front of a crowd of 25,000 to ensure Vietnam completed their group stage commitments with a third win in a row as they finished three points ahead of Thailand, who claimed the runners-up berth in the standings.
Cambodia took third place in the group on goal-difference after sharing a 1-1 draw with Indonesia at Việt Trì Stadium, although both nations are eliminated from the competition.
It was Thailand who almost opened the scoring in the fourth minute through Rinyaphat Moondong’s mishit cross, the ball beating goalkeeper Trần Thị Kim Thanh but bouncing to safety off the top of the crossbar.
With nine minutes remaining in the half, however, Vietnam took the lead. Huỳnh Như powered past Pinyaphat Klinklai on the right side before the captain clipped in a low cross that Thu Thảo volleyed beyond Pawarisa Homyamyen from eight yards out.
Vietnam dominated the opening exchanges of the second half but the Thailand defence held firm with Phạm Hải Yến’s attempt to score with a scissor kick 13 minutes from time as close as the hosts would come to scoring again.
Nguyễn Thị Thanh Nhã saw her attempt hit the side-netting with seven minutes remaining while Pattaranan Aupachai squandered a rare opportunity for the Thais, steering a header over the bar from 12 yards out.
At Việt Trì Stadium, Hok Saody headed Cambodia ahead in the 76th minute but a fine individual effort by Rosdilah Nurrohmah five minutes later earned Indonesia a share of the spoils.
Saody broke the deadlock when an excellent cross from the left by Heng Sovanmony picked her out in the six-yard box and she guided a diving header beyond goalkeeper Indri Yulianti.
Indonesia were back on level terms after an excellent solo effort by Rosdilah, who received the ball in the middle of the Cambodian half and made a surging run past three defenders before sliding a right-footed shot past Chen Soveat.
The winners of the MSIG Player of the Match award for today’s games are:
Vietnam v Thailand: Trần Thị Thu Thảo (#17), Vietnam
Indonesia v Cambodia: Rosdilah Nurrohmah (#16), Indonesia
The semi-finals will be played at Lạch Tray Stadium on Saturday with Thailand taking on the Group B winners at 4.00pm and Vietnam facing the Group B runners-up at 8.00pm.
Myanmar, Australia and defending champions Philippines are in contention for the top two spots in Group B, which concludes on Wednesday. Group leaders Myanmar meet the Philippines at Lạch Tray Stadium, while second-placed Australia play Timor-Leste at Việt Trì Stadium with both games kicking off at 7.30pm.
The semi-finals, the third-place play-off and the final on 19 August will see Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology implemented for the first time in the history of the ASEAN Women’s Championship. The use of VAR in the MSIG Serenity Cup™ 2025 elevates the women’s game, bringing a new level of fairness to the competition and ensuring that games are officiated to the highest possible standards.
For more information about the MSIG Serenity Cup™ and other ASEAN United FC events, please visit https://aseanutdfc.com/ and @aseanutdfc on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, X and LinkedIn.
