Did the referee 'steal' a penalty kick from the Vietnamese team at the Asian Cup?

The match between the Vietnamese women's team and Chinese Taipei at the Asian Cup sparked much discussion following a notable moment.

The Vietnamese women's team suffered a 0-1 defeat against Chinese Taipei in their second match of Group C in the AFC Women's Asian Cup 2026 finals. Despite creating numerous opportunities in the second half and dominating the game, Coach Mai Đức Chung's squad could not find an equalizer. Notably, the match also sparked major controversy over a referee decision not to review VAR.

From the start, both teams entered cautiously but still actively pressured the opponent's goal. Chinese Taipei created clearer chances in the first 20 minutes. In the 26th minute, Matsunaga's shot hit the crossbar before Su Yu Hsuan quickly rushed in for a header rebound, scoring the opening goal for the East Asian team.

After trailing, the Vietnamese women's team pushed forward to seek an equalizer. In the second half, Coach Mai Đức Chung introduced Huỳnh Như and Hải Linh to boost the attack. These adjustments helped Vietnam create more dangerous opportunities, continuously pressuring goalkeeper Wang Yu-tin's goal.

The peak of pressure came in the 67th minute with a highly controversial incident. Vạn Sự delivered a wide opening pass to the left flank for Thái Thị Thảo to sprint down. From an advantageous position, Vietnam's number 11 delivered a strong cross into the penalty area, unsettling the opponent's defense. The ball reached Bích Thùy, and the striker unleashed a powerful shot.

Bích Thùy's shot struck the hand of Chinese Taipei defender Su Sin-yun inside the penalty area. Slow-motion replays later clearly showed the ball touching the opponent player's hand, prompting immediate reactions from Vietnamese players who urged the referee to consult VAR.

However, despite protests from the Vietnamese team, the main referee still did not go to the sideline to review the incident via VAR. This decision intensified the match tension, because if awarded a penalty at that moment, the Vietnamese women's team had a clear chance to equalize and alter the match's outcome.

After this incident, the Vietnamese women's team continued to press the opponent with successive attacks. However, opportunities regrettably slipped away as shots from Hải Linh or Ngọc Minh Chuyên lacked enough precision to defeat the opposing goalkeeper. The lack of sharpness in finishing rendered the attacking efforts ineffective.

Speaking post-match, Coach Mai Đức Chung candidly admitted: “Clearly, the Vietnamese team did not perform well today. The opponent also weakened significantly in the second half, but we did not capitalize well on our opportunities.” He also noted that the hot weather affected the players' stamina, and affirmed the team will continue striving rather than relying on external factors.

Despite creating a better game flow in the second half and having several clear chances, the Vietnamese women's team had to accept a regrettable defeat. The controversial incident in the 67th minute further left much regret for Coach Mai Đức Chung and his squad. Currently, the team must focus fully on the final match against Japan to keep hopes alive for advancing.