DHAKA, Sept 15, 2018 (BSS)- The Maldives clinched title of the SAFF Suzuki Cup beating hapless India by 2-1 goals in the final held today at Bangabandhu National Stadium here.
It was the second occasion for the Maldives after ten years they lifted the coveted SAFF Trophy after 2008 SAFF Championship where they beat the same opponent India by 1-0 goal in the final.
In the day’s match, Ibrahim Mahudhee Hussain and Ali Afsar scored one goal each both in each half while substitute Sumeet Passi netted the lone goal for India.
In the day’s match, Ibrahim Mahudhee Hussain gave the Maldives a deserving lead in the 19th minute. Taking a pass from Hassan Naiz, Ibrahim sent the ball home with right footed shot from the centre of the box, silencing the Indian fans in the big bowl.
Ibrahim Mahudhee Hussain again got a scoring chance to double the lead in the 41st minute when his angular free kick from outside the D-box went harmlessly over the crossbar.
After the resumption, India got the first scoring chance in the 46thminute but Anirudh Thapa’s header from close range went out of play over the crossbar.
India got the second scoring chance in the 55th minute when Manvir Sing’s header from close range off free kick from Thapa’s missedthe target.
Ali Afsar doubled the lead for Maldives in the 65th minute. Taking a defence splitting pass from Hamzath Mohammed at midfield Afsar ran down and sent the ball to the net with a right footed placing shot after dodging past Indian goalie Vishal Kaith who came forward to clear the ball.
Sumeet Passi, however, pulled one back for India in the 90+2 minute. Taking a cross from Nikhil Chandra Sumit placed the ball home from close range giving no chance to Maldives custodian Mohamed Faisal to react under the bar.
Maldives dominated the entire proceeding and notched their deserving victory while India put to create any real any pressure on India.
Earlier, India enjoying their undefeated run in the group stage as they defeated Sri Lanka 2-0, the Maldives 2-0 and Pakistan 3-1 respectively.
India: GK – Vishal Kaith (1), Kamaljit Singh (16), Sukhdev Patil (30); DF – Salam Ranjan (2), Subhasish Bose (captain/3), Davinder Singh (5), Jerry Lalrinzuala (6), Sarthak Golui (21), Mohammad Sajid Dhot (29); MF – Anirudh Thapa (7), Germanpreet Singh (8), Vinit Rai (14), Ashique Kuruniyan (19), Vignesh Dakshinamurthy (21), Nikhil Poojari (22), Lallianzuala Chhangte (25); FW – Manvir Singh (9), Sumeet Passi (10), Hitesh Sharma (11), Farukh Choudhary (15)
The Maldives: GK – Shareef Hussain (1), Tholaal Hassan (18), Mohamed Faisal
(22); DF – Ali Samooh (2), Ahmed Numaan (3), Hussain Sifaau Yoosuf (4), Akram Abdul Ghanee (captain/13), Mujuthaaz Mohamed (19), Samdhooh Mohamed (25); MF – Mohamed Arif (6), Ali Fasir (7), Hamza Mohamed (10), Mohamed Irufaan (5), Ibrahim Waheed Hassan (20), Hussain Nihan (23), Ahmed Imaz (27); FW – Asadhulla Abdulla (9), Naiz Hassan (11), Riham Abdul Gani (14), Ibrahim Mahudhee (17)