Yesterday's loss at Namdong Asiad Rugby Field in Incheon, South Korea, forces Viet Nam to beat Hong Kong next Tuesday so that it can advance to the second round.

Viet Nam women's team ranks seventh in Asia. Expectations are high against Hong Kong, which sits seven rungs below at 14th place.

North Korea, ranked third in Asia, now sits on top of the three-team group. The North Koreans will play Hong Kong this Saturday, a likely win that will secure them a place in the knockout round.

The North Korean team went on an all-out attack at the sound of the opening whistle. It took only five minutes for Ho Un-Byol to out-muscle the Vietnamese defence and place the ball in front of a Kim Yun-Mi, who beat the Vietnamese goalkeeper to put the Koreans in the lead.

After the opening goal, North Korea continued the onslaught, reducing Viet Nam to its own half before doubling the advantage at 10 minutes with a header off a cross from the right wing.

By the 21st minute the lead was firmly cemented at 3-0 when Kim Un-Ju successfully converted a penalty. The score might have been 4-0 in the 26th minute if not for goalkeeper Trinh's save against Jong Yu-Ri's penalty shot.

After some missed chances, North Korea's Kim Nam-Hui burst past Nguyen Ngoc Anh to find a lurking Jong whose one-toucher found the back of the net for a 4-0 lead minutes before the half.

Viet Nam improved their game in the second half but the effort was only enough to stave off any more North Korean goals. Viet Nam never pose a real threat to goalkeeper Hong Myung-Hui.

Six minutes from regulation time, Jong drew a foul to make up for her failed penalty in the first half. She put an extra nail in the coffin, extending the lead to 5-0.

VNS/VNN