VietNamNet Bridge – The opener of the International Women's Football Tournament Coal-Mineral's Cup saw substitute Bui Thi Phuong score the only goal for a Viet Nam Coal team win over Chinese Taipei 1-0 yesterday.

VN (red) 's Coal edge Chinese Taipei 1-0. The win helped Viet Nam's Coal gain a full three points in the tournament.

The annual tournament, held at Quang Ninh's Cua Ong Stadium, has drawn four teams from the region: China's Hubei, Chinese Taipei, HCM City and host Viet Nam Coal. The teams will compete in a round robin for the cash-prize of VND50 million (US$2,900). The second and third place teams will get VND30 million and VND20 million, respectively.

The hosts, who started with stormy attacks against a rejuvenated Chinese Taipei team, dominated the first half but failed to score.

After the break, Viet Nam's Coal, who sent a top notch squad including national team members Nhieu Thuy Linh, Nguyen Thi Mai Lan, Le Thi Thuong, Nguyen Thi Minh Nguyet and Nguyen Thi Nga, kept their momentum to hold the offensive.

In the 68th minute, left-wing Le Thi Hien stole the ball from a Chinese Taipei's defender at the edge of the box and sent it across the penalty area, where Bui Thi Phuong came in to sail the ball into the net with a powerful short.

The visiting team regrouped to try evening out the score, but the Vietnamese defence was too well-organised and all attempts were foiled.

The win helped Viet Nam's Coal gain a full three points in the tournament. They now face HCM City on Sunday.

The HCM City team, who bring their best players including goalkeeper Dang Thi Kieu Trinh, three-time Golden Ball winner Doan Thi Kim Chi and goal-hunter Nguyen Thi Tuyet Mai, play China's Hubei today.

"Hubei is one of strongest teams out of China. They play in China's national league," said the deputy head of the organising board Truong Hai Tung.

Awards will also be given to the Best Player, Best Scorer, Best Goalkeeper and Fair-Play.

The tournament will close next Thursday.

(Source: Viet Nam News)