Futsal

Thái Sơn Nam beat HCM City 5-1 to take their second win at the National Women's Futsal Championship on August 28 in Hà Nam Province. Photo from VFF

HÀ NAM — Thái Sơn Nam stayed at the top of the table after their second win at the National Women's Futsal Championship on August 28 in Hà Nam Province.

The reigning champions thrashed HCM City FC 5-1 in a city derby match.

Coach Nguyễn Hoàng An used her strong and experienced players in the starting line in the hopes of stealing the show from the beginning for HCM City.

However, her defenders made a mistake in the first minute when they lost the ball to Thanh Hằng in the central area. Hằng's smart pass in the box found Bùi Thị Trang, who opened the scoring with a straight kick.

After another attempt, Châu Ngọc Bích scored an equaliser for HCM City, sending captain Nguyễn Thùy Trang's pass home from a close range in the ninth minute.

Just a minute later Thái Sơn Nam set their lead again. Nguyễn Phương Anh heeled perfectly to make the score 2-1. Lê Thị Thanh Ngân extended the gap to 3-1 30 seconds later.

Thái Sơn Nam had two more goals before the break, one from Trịnh Nguyễn Thanh Hằng in the 16th minute and another from Ngân in the 20th.

The second half saw a strong attack from HCM City, but they couldn't break Thái Sơn Nam's solid defence.

In the later match, hosts Phong Phú Hà Nam trounced Hà Nội 5-2, earning their first win of the season.

Hà Nội took the lead with an opener from Nguyễn Thị Hoa just two minutes into the game, but they collapsed under strong attacks from Hà Nam.

Nguyễn Thùy Linh netted a double after Nguyễn Thị Quỳnh's leveller in the third minute. Lê Thu Thanh Hương and Trần Thị Lan Anh scored one each in the second half to make it 5-1.

Nguyễn Thị Tú Anh narrowed the score in the 32nd minute for Hà Nội.

The next round matches will be on August 30, with Thái Sơn Nam facing Hà Nội and Hà Nam playing HCM City. VNS