Maldives suffers last-minute defeat to Bangladesh in thrilling second match

The Maldives national football team has suffered a last-minute defeat to Bangladesh in the second international friendly with the neighboring country.

The second match was played at the Bashundhara Kings Arena on Saturday.

Bangladesh beat the Maldives with a score of 2 – 1.

The Maldives national football team won their first international friendly match against Bangladesh on Wednesday, with a score of 1 – 0. This was the first time Maldives won against Bangladesh while playing in Bangladesh. Maldives dedicated this historic win against Bangladesh to the late former national team midfielder Mohamed “Baka” Arif. Baka passed away on 25 June 2024 at the age of 38. After the match against Bangladesh, the national squad was pictured holding a poster, dedicating their win to the late football legend.

Maldives scored the first goal and took the lead in the second match as well. Ali “Sentey” Fasir scored the goal for Maldives in the 23rd minute of the match. He expanded the lead for Maldives with a goal in the first match as well.

With two minutes remaining in the full time of the first half, Bangladesh equalized the score. Mujibur Rahman scored that goal for the team.

Bangladesh won the match by scoring a goal in the additional time after the full time. The goal was scored by Papan Singh.

This is the first time Maldives national team is playing, after a year-long hiatus.

Prior to the match, the national squad last played on 17 October 2023 against Bangladesh in the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.

Maldives lost the match that time round.

A 25-player squad comprising the Maldives’ team for the Bangladesh matches departed for the matches on November 10.

The squad includes Hussain Shareef, Samooh Ali, Hussain Sifaau Yoosuf, Mohamed Irufaan, Ali “Sentey” Fasir, Ibrahim Usama, Haisam Rasheed, Naaiz “Dhaadhu” Hassan, Hamza “Hampu” Mohamed, Hassan Raaif Ahmed, Nishaam Mohamed Rasheed, Mohamed Nizam, Haisham Hassan, Ahmed Aiham, Abdullah Looth Ibrahim, Ahmed Maaish Rasheed, Hassan Shifaz, Ibrahim Mahudhee “Feydhoo Ibbe” Hussain, Hussain Nihaan, Iyaan Abdul Aleem, Mohamed Naaim, Hassan Nazeem, Ahmed “Rizey” Rizwan, Mohamed Yameen and Muzdhaan Hassan.

Coach Ali Suzain decided to give opportunities to several young players in the squad selected for the Maldives.

As such, players from the Under-20 national team were also included in the squad.

In addition to this, 14 players from Maziya Sports and Recreation, the most recent champions of the Maldives, were included in the squad.