SAFF C'Ship 2009: Maldives 5 - 1 Sri Lanka

Maldives easily passed the test against Sri Lanka in the semi final by beating them 5-1 to enter the final for a second consecutive year. Ahmed Thoriq(Tom) put Maldives in front in the 21st minute then Channa leveled in the 62nd minute but a minute later Fazeel(Oppo) put Maldives in front again and later Ashfaq(Dhagandey, Fazeel(Oppo) and Assad Ali(Adubarey) scored to earn a remarkable win.

In the 4th minute Gunaratne saw his effort punched away by keeper Imran.

Ten minutes later on the other end Maldives skipper Ashfaaq fired a shot but blocked by Sri Lanka defenders to a corner.

A minute later Arif headed a loose ball from the keeper but denied by the post.

In the 18th minute Ibrahim Fazeel fired a powerful shot from the right side of Sri Lanka penalty area but keeper saved it.

Thoriq scored the opener in the 21st minute when he easily headed Ashfaq’s cross. He was given enough space in between two defenders and his header was too high for the keeper to make a touch.

Ashfaq missed another great opportunity in the 30th minute he met Fazeel’s cross but he couldn’t kick the ball due to keeper’s move and the ball went out.

In the 41st minute Ashfaq supplied a good pass to Fazeel inside Sri Lanka penalty area but his shot went wide.

Four minutes after the break Sanjeev found space in between Maldivian defenders and headed the ball but missed by few inches.

In the 52nd minute Kasun headed Channa’s cross but went off the target.

Channa leveled the game in the 62nd minute when he fired from close range to beat keeper Imran.

But a minute later Fazeel restored the lead for Maldives when his shot inside the penalty area beat Sri Lankan keeper as the ball rolled back into the net after an unfortunate untimely move from the keeper.

Maldives increased their lead in the 76th minute when Ashfaq beat Sri Lankan defender and fired the ball from near angle and over the keeper. Keeper should have done much better again to stop the ball.

In the 85th minute Ashfaaq picked Assad’s decent pass and beat the keeper but a foul from behind by a Sri Lanka defender awarded a penalty for Maldives. Fazeel easily beat the keeper to make it 4-1 with just five minutes to go.

Two minutes later Maldives increased the lead this time Jameel headed Ashfaq’s free kick and then Assad Ali headed the ball into the goal from the six yard box.

This is the third time Maldives beat Sri Lanka in the semi final of SAFF championship. Sri Lanka is yet to beat Maldives in the SAFF championship.