Kong Thi Hang excels against Japan, receiving high praise from AFC

Even though Vietnam's women's team faced a 0-4 loss to Japan's women's team in the last Group C match of the 2026 Women's Asian Cup finals, goalkeeper Kong Thi Hang's display was notably impactful, garnering much praise from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).

The match, held at HBF Park on the afternoon of March 10 (Vietnam time), witnessed nearly continuous pressure from the continent's multiple-time champion, Japan.

They controlled 81% of possession, launched 27 shots, with 12 hitting the target. Despite confronting a barrage of opponent shots, Kong Thi Hang was beaten only four times while making eight saves. She received a rating of 7.1 from Flashscore, the highest score among Vietnam's women's team players.

It can be said that without the talent of this 32-year-old goalkeeper, Vietnam's women's team would have suffered a heavier defeat. With her impressive performance against Japan, Kong Thi Hang was praised by AFC after the match.

AFC particularly emphasized the reflexes and concentration of the Vietnamese goalkeeper. In the 30th minute, young forward Aoba Fujino unleashed a dangerous close-range volley following a quick Japanese combination. However, Kong Thi Hang reacted brilliantly, diving to make the save and keep the net clean at that moment.

Just minutes later, she again flew to push the ball away after a powerful header by forward Mina Tanaka Ueki. Not stopping there, the goalkeeper born in 1993 also surprised spectators by accurately reading the situation, rushing out to block a skillful lob shot by the same forward aimed at the far post.

The consecutive saves by Kong Thi Hang helped Vietnam's women's team avoid a heavier defeat against the continent's top opponent. AFC assessed that, despite Japan creating many dangerous opportunities, Vietnam's women's team goalkeeper maintained composure and played a crucial role in limiting the number of goals conceded.

At the club level, Kong Thi Hang currently plays for Than Khoang San Vietnam, one of the most tradition-rich clubs in Vietnamese women's football.

The goalkeeper born in 1993, from Vinh Tuong district (Vinh Phuc), is regarded as one of the most stable and experienced custodians in Vietnamese women's football at present.

Few know that Kong Thi Hang's path to football was not smooth. From childhood, she displayed outstanding talent in various sports. In 2008, while still a student, Hang won a silver medal in the long jump event at the Phu Dong Sports Festival. Additionally, she also participated in volleyball competitions and was evaluated as an athlete with a very strong physical foundation.

However, football is the path that truly allowed Kong Thi Hang to maximize her abilities. Though she started in the king of sports relatively late compared to many peers, her height of 1.69m, quick reflexes, and boldness in aerial situations enabled her to be quickly discovered and guided by coaches to develop as a goalkeeper.

2011 marked a crucial turning point when Kong Thi Hang was officially promoted to the first team of Than Khoang San Vietnam Club. From then until now, she has become a familiar face in the goal of the Mining Land club.

According to the head coach of Than Khoang San Vietnam, this goalkeeper has increasingly perfected her ball-catching skills, ability to command the defense line, and match temperament. Hang's presence in the goal always provides a sense of security for the entire team.

Consistent performance at the club level has helped Kong Thi Hang be included in the national team roster for many consecutive years. She was first called up to the national team when preparing for the 2014 AFC Women's Asian Cup finals.

At that time, the number one goalkeeper position belonged to veteran goalkeeper Dang Thi Kieu Trinh. Though mainly serving as a backup, the period of training and playing alongside the experienced senior helped Kong Thi Hang accumulate many valuable lessons.

In recent SEA Games editions such as 2017, 2019, 2022, 2023, and 2025, Kong Thi Hang has consistently served as the backup goalkeeper for Vietnam's women's team. Nevertheless, she always maintains a professional spirit, strives in training, and is ready to play whenever given the opportunity.

The impressive saves against Japan's women's team at the 2026 Asian Cup once again affirm Kong Thi Hang's value in Vietnam's women's team lineup. This performance also demonstrates that coach Mai Duc Chung's choice to consistently include her in the goalkeeper list for major tournaments over many years is fully justified.