Thai Thi Thao and Nguyen Thi Tuyet Dung scored two goals in the second half to send Mai Duc Chung’s side only one win away from their second successive SEA Games crown.
Vietnam headed into the match with great confidence, boosted by their superior head-to-head record against the Philippines side.
Chung’s troops threated to score a number of times in the first 20 minutes, with Bich Thuy placing a shot wide in a one-on-one with Philippine keeper Palacios (4’) and Tuyet Dung shooting over the crossbar from nearly 20 metres (8’).
Goalie Kim Thanh rescued Vietnam twice in the following minutes parrying a one-on-one shot by forward Bolden (26’) and blocking a powerful header by Quinley Quezada from close range (41’).
On the stroke of halftime, Bich Thuy drove a long-range strike, only to see her attempt denied by the Philippine goalkeeper.
It was not until the hour mark that Vietnam’s dominance was concretised, with Duong Thi Van bursting down the right flank and curling a cross into the box for Thai Thi Thao to slot in the empty net to open the scoring.
The Philippines came close to restoring the parity five minutes later with a cunning direct corner kick that was brilliantly parried by goalkeeper Kim Thanh.
Del Ocampo found the back of the net in the 73rd minute, but the goal was disallowed as the Philippines player was ruled offside.
Tuyet Dung put the game to bed a few minutes before the final whistle taking a pass from Nguyen Thi Lieu and curling a low shot toward the far corner of the goal to round off a convincing 2-0 victory for Vietnam.
Mai Duc Chung’s side are now only one win away from defending their SEA Games title. The last challenge to them will be a title match against Thailand on December 8.
