The Vietnamese side entered the match with high confidence and immediately applied pressure from the start. In the 8th minute, Thuy Trang laid off a clever pass for Phan Thi Trang, whose long-range shot was blocked by a Lion City defender.

Just minutes later, Thu Thao charged down the right flank and delivered a sharp cross, but no teammate was in position to finish.

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Huynh Nhu and her teammates dominated Lion City throughout the match. Photo: VFF

The visitors responded in the 16th minute with a skillful move by Ami Takeuchi inside the box, but goalkeeper Kim Thanh made a solid save to deny the opportunity.

HCMC kept up the pressure and nearly opened the scoring in first-half stoppage time. Huynh Nhu’s free kick was on target, but Lion City’s goalkeeper Shakira made a superb diving save.

The second half saw complete control from the home team. In the 59th minute, substitute Cu Thi Huynh Nhu had the crowd on edge with a shot that struck the post. Nine minutes later, Phan Thi Trang’s effort crashed off the crossbar following a pinpoint delivery from the right wing.

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HCMC Women clinch their second consecutive win in the AFC Women’s Champions League 2025/26. Photo: VFF

The breakthrough finally came in the 84th minute. A miscommunication in Lion City’s defense caused an own goal, handing HCMC a deserved lead.

In stoppage time, substitute K’Thua sealed the win with an impressive solo effort, cutting in from the wing and firing a low shot into the far corner to make it 2–0.

With this result, HCMC Women now have two consecutive victories and continue to chase Melbourne City for the top spot in the group.

Scorers: HCMC Women: Bao Chau (84’), K’Thua (90+3’)

Starting line-ups:

Lion City: Shakira, Jia Xing, Umairah, Syazwan, Shibusawa, Khairunnisa, Dhaniyah (Dorcas 72’), Irsalina (Salleh 62’), Kitagawa, Raeka, Takeuchi.

Ho Chi Minh City: Kim Thanh, Gorman, Goodwill, Thu Thao, Bao Chau, Thuy Trang (Yoshida 39’; Hoai Luong 80’), Mason (Cu Thi Huynh Nhu 46’), Phan Thi Trang (K’Thua 70’), Tuyet Ngan (Hong Nhung 84’), Ouni (Kim Yen 46’), Huynh Nhu.

Thien Binh