China women beat Vietnam 1-0 in the quarter-finals of the Asian Games on Thursday. The match stretched into extra time before Wang Shuang found the net in the 109th minute to settle what had been a tight contest. To be fair, neither side could break the deadlock in regular time despite creating their handful of chances.
China took the early lead in discipline with Xie Zongmei showing yellow in the 21st minute, followed by Zhang Chengxue's booking 19 minutes later. The hosts changed shape at the break, bringing on Wurigumula and Wang Aifang together in the 56th minute. By then Vietnam were already looking stretched, having lost their previous three matches across all competitions.
The goal came when both sides had thrown bodies forward. Wang Shuang struck in the 109th minute, a moment that felt inevitable given China's recent form — five wins in their last six matches before this fixture. The Vietnamese side had nothing to lose and went for it, but cannot afford another slip if they want to climb out of third place.
Vietnam made three substitutions in quick succession between the 57th and 58th minutes, bringing on Nguyen Thi Tuyet Ngan, Nguyen Thi Bich Thuy and Pham Hai Yen. They added more in the 71st and 74th minutes but could not find the equaliser. China responded with their own changes, bringing on Xie Zongmei in the 76th minute and then Zhang Rui in the 91st minute.
Discipline became an issue late on. Nguyen Thi Hoa picked up a yellow in the 86th minute, then Vũ Thị Hoa in the 100th minute after the goal. Wang Yanwen had already been booked in the 75th minute, and Sun Fangxin saw yellow just a minute after Wang Shuang's winner. The match ended with both sides making final changes in the 115th minute.
China remain top of the standings with seven points from three games, two wins and a draw. Vietnam sit third on one point from three matches, with no victories and two defeats. The result extends China's unbeaten run and leaves the Vietnamese side facing a difficult path to recovery.
