(VOVWORLD) - The Vietnam female football team has won SEA Games gold for the record sixth time after a wonderful display of courage, strength and fighting spirit to defeat tough opponent Thailand. During a 120-minute final match, the ‘Golden girls’ of Vietnam played with all they had, like warriors in the heat of an intense battle.
 Vietnam women's football team defeated Thailand to win SEA Games 30. |
Before SEA Games 30, Female football had featured in the SEA Games 10 times, with 5 of them won by Vietnam. The Vietnam female football team claimed their 6th gold medal last Sunday after overcoming the Thai team, becoming the highest achieving female football team in SEA Games history.
The first 90 minutes of the finals ended in a stalemate. Against an opponent with a good physical foundation, Vietnam had to perform above their limits. Many players like Kim Thanh, Huynh Nhu, Tuyet Dung, Nguyen Thi Xuyen, Thi Kieu, ect. were all exhausted physically, but their spirit never wavered.
Chuong Thi Kieu said: “I was in pain, but still played on the field with everything I had to live up to the fan’s expectations. Head coach Mai Duc Chung and the team leader’s encouragement gave me the motivation to fight on and claim the victory.”
Their efforts paid off just after the first 2 minutes of extra time with Hai Yen scoring the first goal of the match. Yen said: “I’m so happy for my team’s victory. Being able to make a small contribution to the country, and earning the second gold medal of my career made me very emotional.”
Captain Huynh Nhu told VOV that the last minutes of the match were physically challenging for Vietnam's women. “Kieu’s leg was bleedingsignificantly at the end of the 1st half of the match. Doctors rushed to the field to take care of Kieu. We had to encourage each other to keep our spirits up. We did our best throughout 120 minutes playing in the field.”
Head Coach Mai Duc Chung told VOV: “I was super emotional. This was the 6th time the Vietnam female football team won the championship. The victory is attributed to the whole team’s efforts. Despite all the injuries and exhaustion, all team members played their very best.”