SAFF C'Ship 2009 (Final): Maldives 0 - 0 India: India won on Penaties

India never allowed Maldives to beat them thrice in a row and perfectly took the revenge of final loss in Colombo in 2008. India keeper Arindam continued his splendid performance keeping Maldives at bay and saved two penalties to win the title for a fifth time.

Most notable disappointment from Maldives was failure to play their usual passing game and instead fell a victim of India’s long ball strategy. India continued their stability in all departments, most notably at the back.

Maldives only managed to get their feet back on the ball in the extra two halves and in regular time they rarely trouble the Indian defense.

Maldives completely outplayed the Indians in the extra period of the game and chances came in numbers but failed to convert any. All thanks to India’s superb custodian Arindam.

India could have scored the winner in the extra period if Sushil was sharp enough to kick the loose ball from Imran in the second period of extra time but Imran blocked his shot.

Maldives skipper Ashfaq could have finished the game off later in the game but after beating his markers he fired the ball inches over the cross bar.

In the penalty kicks, Jibon, Denzil and Subodh converted their respective spot kicks while Nirmal fired wide.

Ibrahim Fazeel was the only player to score for Maldives on penalties. Thoriq and Mukhthar’s kicks were well saved by Arindam and Ashfaq fired the crucial one wide.

India keeper Arindam was named the best players of the tournament. Ahmed Thoriq, Channa (Sri Lanka) and Enamul (Bangladesh) shared the top scorer award with each scored four goals. Bangladesh was awarded the fair play award.

This is the second time Maldives lost SAFF championship on penalties and interestingly Bangabandhu stadium is the venue on both occasions.

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.

SAFF C'Ship 2009: Maldives 2 - 0 India

Defending champions Maldives booked a semi final place in the ongoing SAFF championship after beating India 2-0 today. Ahmed Thoriq (Tom) scored the opener in the 16th minute and Ibrahim Fazeel doubled the lead in the 82nd minute. Maldives will face Sri Lanka in the semi final on Friday.

Ahmed Thoriq (Tom) scored his third goal of the tournament in the 16th minute when he comfortably fired Ashfaq’s cross from close range.

In the 26th minute Oppo provided a good cross from the left flank but unmarked Mukhthar was inches behind to found the ball.

India’s first close effort came in the 32nd minute when cross from Indian player was on target to the goal but keeper Imran punched the ball away to a corner.

In the 37th minute India’s Raja made a shot on target but Imran handled it well.

Two minutes after the break India found their best chance of the game but on the edge of six yard box Balwant failed to kick the ball properly and wasted the opportunity for a goal kick.

In the 54th minute Ashfaq missed a golden chance but with the pressure of Indian defender he failed to make the shot on target.

Just an hour mark India hit another blow when Balwant was given the marching orders after a second yellow card for a dive inside Maldives penalty area.

Second half substitute Assad Ali picked a through ball from Ashfaq in the 73rd minute but his untimely kick went out for a goal kick.

In the 78th minute Ashfaq once again created an opportunity but this time his shot was on targeted to the side net.

In the 82nd minute Mukhthar supplied a good pass to Ashfaq but his powerful shot was blocked by Indian defenders to a corner. Ibrahim Fazeel then scored the second goal from Ashfaq’s corner.

In the extra period of the game Fazeel lost another open chance to increase the lead but his effort was denied by Indian defenders.

SAFF C'Ship 2009: Maldives 3 - 1 Afghanistan

Defending champions Maldives bounced back from the horrible start to the tournament after beating Afghanistan 3-1 today. Maldives, after missing couple of chances, was shocked in the 30th minute when Hashmatullah found the back of the net from a long range effort. Ahmed Thoriq (Tom) leveled the game just seven minutes into the game before Ali Ashfaq (Dhagandey) scored twice.

Maldives first effort came in the 4th minute when Thoriq chest controlled Umair’s cross but the shot was off the target.

Three minutes later Afghan pressed Maldives hard and Israfeel saw his close range header went wide.

Best chance of the half fell onto Fazeel in the 17th minute when he perfectly headed Mukhthar’s cross but the ball was denied by the post.

Maldives had another good possession in the 23rd minute. A good one to one passing effort from Ashfaq, Mukhthaar and Thoriq saw the ball fell on to Mukhthar but his poor first touch played the ball too fast and keeper easily picked up the loose ball.

Maldives paid the price of some sloppy defense in the 30th minute as Hashmathullah took the advantage and fired the ball on the edge of penalty area. Keeper Imran untimely move let the ball ended up in the net.

Just seven minutes after the break in the 52nd minute Thoriq (Tom) leveled the game for Maldives after converting Fazeel’s off target header.

But a minute later Hashmatullah was unlucky not to restore Afghanistan’s lead as his shot missed the target by inches.

Mukhthaar missed a good chance in the 67th minute as he fired a shot over the cross bar.

Maldives took the lead for the first time in the game in the 70th minute when Ashfaaq picked the ball inside the six yard box and fired the ball beyond the keeper.

Two minutes later Akram saw his powerful shot being denied by the keeper.

Just two minutes before regular time Ashfaq scored his second of the day after picking a long range through ball from Bonda. Dhagandey made no mistake beating the defender and sending the ball to the far corner.

SAFF C'Ship 2009: Maldives 1 - 1 Nepal

Nepal was unfortunate to end the game against Maldives without a win after creating more than enough chances in their first game. Defending champions Maldives showed an unexpected below average performance and definitely they need a lot of work to do if they are even to go beyond the group stage.

In the 11th minute Nepal created a good one to break the deadlock, but Bijay’s long range shot was denied near the post to a corner by keeper Imran.

A minute later Ashfaq made Maldives first shot of the game but went wide off the target.

In the 25th minute Nepal’s star striker Anil made a stunning shot on goal but was straight to the keeper.

In the 35th, after a good build up from the midfield, Fazeel made a stunning shot inside the penalty area reaching a well executed cross from Thoriq. But the effort was well denied by the keeper.

In the 41st minute Maldives was awarded a free kick inches outside Nepal penalty area when the keeper hand the ball outside the penalty area. But Fazeel’s effort sailed over the cross bar.

Just five minutes after the break Nepal created their first chance but Chetan’s shot only hit the side net. Few seconds later another effort Chetan was denied by keeper Imran.

Maldives broke the deadlock in the 60th minute when Ahmed Thoriq found Mukhthar Naseer’s cross and beat the keeper to send the ball into an empty net.

Nine minutes later AYL’s striker Jumanu Rai leveled the game for Nepal when he headed from close range to beat keeper Imran.

In the 82nd minute of the game Nepal’s Jumanu Rai scored a goal only to know it was ruled off for an off side.

Maldives keeper Imran deserved a big thank for a superb move that denied Anil’s long range shot in the extra period of the game.