SAFF Championship: Maldives off to a good start with crucial win in first game
Following the first two matches of the group, the Maldives and Lebanon secured three points each
Hampu and other players of the Maldives national football team during Thursday's SAFF Championship game
The Maldives is off to a good start in the ongoing SAFF Championship football tournament, after beating Bhutan in its first game on Thursday.
Maldives beat Bhutan 2 – 0 in Thursday’s game.
Hamza “Hampu” Mohamed took the lead seven minutes into the game with a penalty shot, with Naiz “Dhaadhu” Hassan having scored the second goal for the team in the final minute of the exciting game.
Bhutan players had controlled much of the game and their attacks was excellent during the entire game, most of which were defended by goalie Hussain Shareef, who is playing for the national team for the first time.
The Maldives’ team stepped up its game after Ali “Sentey” Fasir joined the game in the final half.
Attempts at scoring by Sentey, Hassan “Hanna” Raaif Ahmed, Dhaadhu and Ibrahim Waheed Hassan were foiled by Bhutan’s goalie throughout the game.
Hanna was kicked off the field after being red-carded followed by a yellow card in the additional time played.
Maldives emerged victorious in the previous nine games played with Bhutan as well.
Following the first two matches of the group, Maldives and Lebanon secured three points each.
Lebanon beat Bangladesh 2 – 0 in a game held earlier on Thursday.
The national team’s second game will be against Bangladesh, on June 25. On June 28, Maldives will go head-to-head with Lebanon.
The SAFF Championship is being held from June 21 – July 4 in Bengaluru, India.
The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals. India is currently ranked in the top spot of Group A. Kuwait follows closely at second. The group also comprises of Nepal and Pakistan.
Maldives is placed in the same group as Lebanon, Bangladesh and Bhutan this SAFF Championship.
