Forging ahead: A Ha Noi 1 striker (in white T-shirt) chases the ball in the opening match of the National Women's Football Championship yesterday at Thong Nhat Stadium in HCM City. — Photo thethao.thanhnien.com.vn

HCM CITY — Defending champions Ha Noi 1 beat Ha Noi 2 4-1 in the opening game of the National Women's Football Championships that kicked off yesterday at the Thong Nhat Stadium in HCM City.

Ha Noi 1's goals were scored by striker Nguyen Thi Hue, midfielder Nguyen Thi Kim Tien and veteran striker Nguyen Thi Muon, while striker Thai Thi Thao scored the only goal for Ha Noi 2.

Entering the match as the favourites, Ha Noi 1, possessing more national players, did start the match as a better team and quickly took control, but the real goal-scoring opportunity only appeared at the ninth minute.

Muon's perfect through-ball tore Ha Noi 2's defence apart and released Hue down to the box to face Ha Noi 2 goalkeeper Vo Thi Trinh before putting a low shot past Trinh to give Ha Noi 1 a 1-0 lead.

After the opening goal, Vu Ba Dong's team played even better, while Dang Quoc Tuan's players were never close enough to threaten keeper Nguyen Thi Thuy Duong's goal.

The score could have been 3-0 if Le Thi Thuy had been successful in grabbing the golden opportunity presented when she was face to face with Trinh, who responded very quickly in deflecting her shot.

But Ha Noi 1's determined efforts were rewarded five minutes later as Trinh Thi Hoan escaped from the opposing defenders to dribble the ball towards the goal line on the right wing before turning it back to the box, where it was met by captain Tien, who easily beat Trinh with a low shot.

Just five minutes later, the score was suddenly reduced to 2-1 as Thao scored a stunning goal with a powerful shot from around 20 metres, with the ball flying beyond the reach of Duong to the top corner of the net.

But Ha Noi 1 quickly restored their two-goal advantage as Muon headed home from Tien's corner on the left wing on the half-hour mark.

The second half was no different from the first one, with Ha Noi 1 enjoying more possession time and having more opportunities to expand the lead, with Thuy successfully converting one of them to give her team a convincing 4-1 victory. — VNS