Vietnamese bundle out gritty Malditas

Chasing shadows for almost the entire match, the Philippines absorbed a 2-1 defeat to powerhouse Vietnam on Sunday and bowed out of the AFF Women’s Championship in Chonburi, Thailand.

The Malditas took the lead in the 34th minute thanks to an own goal, but they were left overwhelmed by the two-time AFF champions, who proved quicker and technically superior.

Coach Let Dimzon’s side absorbed the pressure for most of the match, sitting deep in their own half and allowing the Vietnamese to easily knock the ball around.

Unfortunately for the Malditas, they were caught napping on the counterattack in one of the rare moments when they had possession at a promising position.

A perfectly executed counter set the stage for Vietnamese skipper Huynh Nhu to finish past Filipino goalkeeper Inna Palacios in the 41st minute.

Vietnam remained in the ascendancy to start the second half before Thi Tuyet Dung’s persistence finally paid off in the 58th minute as she found space on the left before curling the ball past Palacios.

The Malditas were limited to half-chances late on when they chased an equalizer as their historic campaign ended in heartbreak.

Still, a first semifinal appearance in the competition augurs well for Dimzon’s team as it bids to win the first medal in 34 years in the women’s football tournament of the Southeast Asian Games in Manila late this year.