AFC Women's Champions League: Odisha FC succumb to Ho Chi Minh City FC

The Juggernauts slumped to their second successive loss despite scoring their first goal of the campaign.

Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City Women’s FC confirmed their spot in the knockout stage of the AFC Women’s Champions League™ 2024/25 after a 3-1 win over India’s Odisha FC in their Group C tie on Wednesday.

The win also secured the progress of Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies, with the two sides to meet on Saturday to decide the group winners. Odisha will face Taichung Blue Whale Women’s Football Team, with both teams seeking a win to end their respective campaigns on a high note.

Ho Chi Minh City, who defeated Taichung 3-1 on Matchday One, enjoyed a perfect start as they took the lead in the first minute through Nguyen Thi Kim Yen’s header off Huynh Nhu’s corner.

Huynh Nhu was a constant threat to Odisha, first setting up Chuong Thi Kie, who sent her header over the bar in the eighth minute. Moments later, the forward failed to connect properly to a through ball inside the box, allowing keeper Shreya Hooda to gather comfortably.

Odisha had their first sight on goal in the 12th minute through Neha Sillay’s tame long-range effort, but they nearly equalised four minutes later after Nishka Parkash played Jennifer Yeboah through on the left whose shot forced a fine save from Ho Chi Minh City goalkeeper Quach Thu Em.

The home side came close to scoring with Huynh Nhu curling her free-kick straight into the arms of Hooda in the 25th minute, before she set up Meghan Root free on the right side of the area, only for the American to shoot straight at Hooda.

Ho Chi Minh City finally doubled their lead three minutes before the break when Odisha failed to clear Tran Thi Thuy Trang’s deep cross into the box, leaving Tran Thi Thu Thao with space to set up Huynh Nhu for a simple finish.

Despite being limited to only counter-attacks in the second half, Odisha reduced the deficit in the 63rd minute with Malati Munda starting the move on the right, setting up Yeboah to dribble past her marker before rifling a powerful shot past Quach Thu Em.

Despite being limited to only counter-attacks in the second half, Odisha reduced the deficit in the 63rd minute with Malati Munda starting the move on the right to set up Yeboah to dribble past her marker before rifling a powerful shot past Quach Thu Em.

The goal gave Odisha the confidence to venture forward but they almost paid the price when Phan Thi Trang’s glancing header was denied by the bar off Chuong Thi Kieu cross in the 73rd minute.

Ho Chi Minh, however, did score their third in the fourth minute of added time after Thua K set up Ngo Thi Hong Nhung for a cool finish.

For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram.