Esmee Brugts (22) fires home one of the best goals of the tournament so far. — AFP/VNA Photo

Anh Đức

DUNEDIN — The Việt Nam national women's football team ended their first FIFA Women's World Cup with a 0-7 defeat to 2019 finalists the Netherlands in Dunedin, New Zealand on Tuesday.

Dutch superstar Lieke Martens opened the scoreline early for the Oranje Leeuwinnen, before two braces from Esmee Brugts and Jill Roord, as well as goals from Katja Snoeijs and Daniëlle van de Donk sealed an emphatic victory for the 2019 World Cup finalists.

Having lost their first two matches against the United States and Portugal, Việt Nam were already eliminated from Group E before kick-off. Despite their early exit, coach Mai Đức Chung and his team still have a target in their final match at the World Cup: to score Việt Nam's first-ever goal at the tournament. Holland on the other hand, needed to avoid a loss in order to progress, and score as many goals as they can to get first place.

The 72-year-old coach started veteran Phạm Hải Yến up front, replacing captain Huỳnh Như. Midfield prodigy Trần Thị Hải Linh returned to the lineup after missing the game against Portugal.

Just like in the previous match, Việt Nam had a great start. Right on the fourth minute, the Golden Star Women Warriors had what could be their biggest chance ever to score at the World Cup, when Nguyễn Thị Bích Thuỳ was through on goal and had only keeper Daphne van Domselaar to beat.

Thuỳ's first touch, however, was bad and forced her to take a difficult lobbed shot, which went over the crossbar.

After Bích Thuỳ's opportunity, the match was perhaps one-sided, with the Dutch ladies in control.

In the eighth minute, Dominique Janssen crossed deep for Martens, who lobbed the ball cheekily over Kim Thanh and opened the score for Holland.

Just three minutes later, Katja Snoeijs doubled the lead with a powerful shot from just outside the box. The Vietnamese defence was complacent in this goal, having left Snoeijs enough space and time.

Seven minutes after Snoeijs scored, Holland got their third, courtesy of Esmee Brugts' wonderful strike from around thirty metres.

In the 23rd minute, Janssen stole the ball from Bích Thuỳ and provided a beautiful cross for Jill Roord to tap in Holland's fourth goal. Hoàng Thị Loan was furious because of her teammates' defending that led to the goal.

Coach Chung brought on Mỹ Anh and Chương Thị Kiều to replace Loan and Lương Thị Thu Thương to bolster the defence. The changes seemed to work for a few minutes as the Dutch had trouble penetrating Việt Nam's defence.

However, just before the first half ended, Holland netted their fifth goal. In the 45th minute, a great long ball from Brugts found Jill Roord free inside the box. Kim Thanh was able to save Roord's point-blank shot, but the rebound reached Van de Donk, who fired into the top of the net.

With the result firmly decided, coach Chung brought on veteran keeper Khổng Thị Hằng for her World Cup debut in the second half. Hằng was able to keep a clean sheet for seventeen minutes before Brugts fired home a carbon copy of her first goal, and the Dutch led 6-0 just at the hour mark.

Chung subbed in Huỳnh Như and Nguyễn Thị Tuyết Dung hoping for Việt Nam's first goal, but the duo could not make any difference. Holland got their seventh goal in the 83rd minute, with Roord completing her brace.

"We were helplessly outmatched," said Head Coach Mai Đức Chung.

"The mentality was at the highest, but that alone could not close the gap in skill, and the loss was deserved."

With this victory, the Netherlands ended Group E with seven points and finished first place, ahead of the United States, who were held to a goalless draw by Portugal.

The Việt Nam national football team ended at the bottom of the table in their first outing at a World Cup, but the future looks bright for the team and women's football, as the women's game is being greatly noticed and developed in the country. — VNS