Southeast Asian Games 2023: Vietnam women take football gold in run up to debut FIFA Women’s World Cup appearance

In a highly anticipated Southeast Asian Games 2023 Women’s Football final, Vietnam triumphed over Myanmar with a hard-fought 2-0 victory.

Goals from captain Huỳnh Như and youngster Nguyễn Thị Thanh Nhã were enough for Vietnam to defend their title for the fourth successive year.

The victory was especially significant for Vietnam, as they prepare to make their first ever Women's World Cup appearance later this summer.

Here’s everything you need to know about the final and this record-breaking Vietnamese side.

Vietnam and Myanmar at the Southeast Asian Games 2023

The Southeast Asian Games 2023 final wasn’t the first time that the finalists had faced each other in this competition.

Vietnam and Myanmar came up against one another in the early stages of Group A, with Vietnam securing a 3-1 win. The two teams then finished joint top on points, with Vietnam taking the top spot with a better goal difference.

Myanmar went on to face the winners of Group B, Thailand, in the semi-finals where they managed a dramatic 4-2 win.

Hosts Cambodia came up against Vietnam in the semi-finals, and the Vietnamese secured a place in the final with an impressive 4-0 win.

It didn’t take long for the defending champions to open the scoring in the final at Cambodia’s Olympic Stadium in Phnom Penh. In the 12th minute, midfielder Nguyễn Thị Tuyết Dung knocked the ball past oncoming Myanmar goalkeeper May Zin Nwe who came rushing out of her box, allowing captain Huỳnh Như to tap the ball into an empty net and put her side 1-0 up.

Despite Myanmar's close efforts in the early stages of the second half, Vietnam’s attacking power proved too much for their opposition as they consistently pulled apart the Myanmar defence. It was May Zin Nwe who expertly pulled off a number of saves to keep Myanmar in the game.

Their hopes of a comeback were somewhat shattered, however, when Vietnam netted their second goal in the 75th minute. 21 year-old Nguyễn Thị Thanh Nhã - named as FIFA’s one to watch this summer - secured her fifth international goal as she expertly floated a ball from right-wing into the goal to make it 2-0.

The win was Vietnam's eighth women's football gold at the Southeast Asian Games, whilst Myanmar picked up first silver medal since 2005.

Huỳnh Như: Vietnam’s key to success

It was captain Huỳnh Như who opened the scoring and helped secure the record win for her country.

The 31 year-old is no stranger to finding the back of the net on the international stage, having so far scored 66 goals in her 71 appearances for Vietnam.

Huỳnh Như’s career began in at Ho Chi Minh City where she spent 15 years, managing 45 goals in 52 appearances. During her time in Ho Chi Minh City, she became a four-time Top Scorer and four-time Best of the Tournament in the Vietnamese Women’s Championship.

In 2022, she became the first female Vietnamese player to sign for a Portuguese side in her move to Lank FC Vilaverdense. To date, she has netted seven goals in 14 games for the Campeonato Nacional de Futebol Feminino side.

Huỳnh Như’s move to Europe was met with some concern from her Vietnamese counterparts, but the 31 year-old felt she was in the right moment of her career to play abroad.

“I hope that my image, as well as Vietnamese football, will thrive overseas and there will be more and more female players that can play football abroad,” she told FIFA.

As the only current Vietnamese player to play abroad domestically, Huỳnh Như’s European experience will prove invaluable ahead of this year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup as she prepares to captain her country for their first ever time on the world stage.

This Southeast Asian Games 2023 gold was Huỳnh Như’s fourth of her career, adding to her one AFF Cup title, seven domestic Vietnamese titles and 3 National Cups - putting her in good stead ahead of this summer.

2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup: How to watch Vietnam

Following their Southeast Asian Games 2023 win, Vietnam’s attention now turns to this summer’s FIFA Women’s World Cup - their debut appearance in the competition.

Vietnam have been drawn in Group E alongside reigning champions USA, the Netherlands and Portugal.

They kick off their 2023 Women’s World Cup campaign against the USA on July 22, 2023 at 13:00 local time in Auckland. 

Vietnam will then play Portugal on July 27, followed by the Netherlands on August 1.  

FIFA.com will livestream all fixtures from this summer’s 2023 Women’s World Cup and can be accessed across the world.