Maldives stuns India 2-1 to emerge SAFF Cup champs
Maldives lifted their second sub-continental football title beating defending champions India 2-1 in the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Cup Tournament final worked off at the Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka, Bangladesh yesterday.
The second-time winners who led 1-0 at half time also avenged their previous defeat after having lost to the same opponents 0-2 during a preliminary round fixture.
However, a quick counterattack in the 20th minute saw Maldives take the lead. It was a good build up that consequentially ended in a goal.
Hasan Naiz broke free in the midfield and cut a nice through in the path of onrushing Ibrahim Hussain whose in swinging placing shot beat Indian goal-keeper Vishal Kaith in the far post net (1-0).
India widened their game in pursuit of the equaliser and Manvir Singh came close to that in the 30th minute.
Maldives skipper Akram Abdul Ghanee’s miscued clearance landed at the feet of unmarked Manvir who shot into the outside net from the middle of the box.
In the dying minutes of the first half Maldives forward Ali Fasir was cursing his luck as his curving free-kick from the edge of the box landed on the roof of the net.
India intensified their attack after the change of ends and Manvir Singh headed the ball past the Maldives goal-keeper but it was off target.
The fate of the final was decided in the 67th minute with the Maldives forward Ali Fasir scoring a beautiful goal.
In a build up from their own yard the Maldives midfielder Hamza Mohammed spun a neat pass through the defence and Ali Fasir generated some notable speed togo past his marker and cut an angular placing in the far post net (2-0).
India squandered a chance in the 80th minute with Manvir missing the line of a cross curved by Ashik Kuruniyan from the left flank. India scored their consolation goal in the stoppage-time with Sumeet Passi scoring off a cross of Nikhil Pujari (2-1).