In the first match played by the Maldives in the ongoing Under-19 SAFF Championship, they have drawn with Bangladesh.

In the tournament that began on Friday in India, the Maldives' first match ended in a 2-2 draw with Bangladesh.

Bangladesh took an early lead with two goals, but the Maldives fought back to level the match with two goals of their own.

Bangladesh took the lead in the 13th minute through Namzul Huda Faisal. Later, in the final moments of the first half, Md Rifat Kazi extended Bangladesh's lead by scoring their second goal.

In the 57th minute, Anoof Abdulla scored a goal that reignited hope for the Maldives.

The Maldives greatly improved their performance in the second half, displaying excellent play. In the 73rd minute of the match, Ethan Ibrahim Zaki equalized for the Maldives.

Even after that, the Maldives created several opportunities to score in the match.

In the group stage of the tournament, the Maldives' group includes Bangladesh and Bhutan.