Colombo, SRI LANKA - Maldives crowned the champions of South Asia after a thrilling 1-0 win over India in the final played in Sugathadhasa Stadium tonight.
Mukhthar Naseer was the hero of the match scoring the historical goal in the 87th minute from a long range shot.First half was equally balanced where both Maldives and India had their opportunities to get opener but neither team found the target
.Ali Ashfaag was unstoppable in the half and suffered a serious injury when Indian defender Anwar brought him down inside India half. Anwar was booked for the foul and Indian defence cleared Maldives free kick.Maldivian defenders played well holding the speedy strikers of India, but the nervous men in red had poor miss passes but there was always another to recover it.Maldives best opportunity in the first half fell into Ahmed Thoriq when the ace striker, who missed the semi final through injury, headed the ball but was only on target to the vertical bar.It was totally a different Maldivian side in the second half, where they were on full attack and kept the Indian side under constant bombardments.
Maldives keeper Imran had few moments to show his capabilities but on the other side Indian keeper had no time to breath as Ashfaag, Ismail Mohamed, Mukhthar Naseer, Ahmed Thoriq and Ibrahim Fazeel’s deadly attacks were too much for themMaldives kept knocking on Indian door and an hour mark Ashfaag’s powerful shot went across the face of the goal.Few minutes later another powerful shot from skipper Assad went across the goal.But just three minute before full time, Mukhthar Naseer fired a thunderbolt outside Indian penalty area and Indian keeper had no time to save the ball which glued on the net.
A nation was on their feet and the nearly five thousands Maldivian supporters in Sugathadhasa stadium rocked the atmosphere.Even in the dying minutes of the second half Maldives had chances to increase the lead, but who cares? A win is a win and Assad and Co showed a performance that deserves to bring an end to a dream that lasted 17 long years.
Ali Ashfaag was named as the man of the tournament and Ibrahim Fazeel, who scored three goals, named top scorer.
maldivesoccer.com
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment