Vietnam at ease before Asiad women’s football semifinal with Japan

Experts predict that it will not be difficult for Japan to advance to the finale after their clash with Vietnam later today.

Their encounter will begin at 3:00 pm (Vietnam time) in Incheon, South Korea.

Hosts South Korea will take on their neighbors North Korea three hours later the same day.

Coach Mai Duc Chung and his Vietnamese players stressed that they will fight hard to please fans and learn from their world-class rivals.

The coach admitted that the gap between the two sides is huge, even though the Vietnamese national women’s football team now rank seventh in Asia.

“We are happy to be members of Vietnam’s first national football team to advance to the last-four round of an Asiad,” said goalkeeper Kieu Trinh. Vietnam eliminated Thailand after a 2-1 victory in the quarterfinals last Friday.

“We feel relaxed ahead of the match with Japan. We hope to have a better result than the one at the last Asian Cup.”

Vietnam were beaten 0-4 by Japan at the 2014 Asian Cup organized in May in Ho Chi Minh City.

Japanese coach Norio Sasaki highly rated the Vietnamese defense.

“Vietnam are a difficult team to defeat.

“At the Asian Cup last May, it took Japan almost 45 minutes to open the scoring, and I think the Vietnamese are even stronger now.

“I highly rate their defense, high spirit, and counterattack” said Sasaki.

Vietnam have skilled players such as Nguyen Thi Lieu, Nguyen Thi Nguyet, Nguyen Thi Muon, and Nguyen Thi Minh Nguyet, he added.

Japan were crowned queens at the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Germany after beating the United States 3-1 in a penalty shootout, following a 2-2 draw after extra time. They were the first Asian team to win the FIFA Women's World Cup.

The Japanese women went on to defeat Australia 1-0 in the finale of the 2014 Asian Cup in Vietnam to capture their first such title.

Story summary:
	Vietnamese women rank 33rd in latest FIFA rankings