Maldives rewrites futsal history with championship-sealing comeback win
Maldives defeated Bhutan 3-1 in Thailand to win the SAFF Futsal Championship with a perfect record of five victories. After falling behind early, goals from Abdulla Junaid, Ahmed Hameed, and Captain Mohamed Imram secured the historic triumph. The achievement is particularly significant as Maldives accomplished this without a dedicated indoor futsal facility.
Maldives team players during an earlier game of the tournament | SAFF | SAFF
Maldives has written a new chapter in its sporting history by securing its first-ever international futsal trophy after defeating Bhutan in the men’s division of the recent SAFF Futsal Championship.
In their fifth match of the tournament, played in Thailand on Saturday, Maldives entered the contest with the championship title firmly within reach. Despite conceding early, the team delivered a composed and clinical comeback, sealing a 3-1 victory to clinch the title in style.
Maldives began the match on the front foot, creating several scoring opportunities and applying sustained pressure. However, it was Bhutan that struck first, as Jigme Tsultrim found the back of the net to give his side the lead.
Refusing to be shaken by the setback, the Maldivian side continued to press aggressively in attack. Their determination was rewarded just before halftime, when Abdulla Junaid scored the equalizer to restore parity and swing the momentum back in Maldives’ favor.
That momentum carried seamlessly into the second half.
Maldives surged ahead through a well-taken free kick by Ahmed Hameed, turning the match on its head. Even after taking the lead, the team maintained control, dominating possession and carving out additional chances. The triumph was emphatically sealed four minutes before the final whistle when Captain Mohamed Imram struck the third goal, putting the result beyond doubt.
With the win, Maldives preserved a perfect record in the tournament, claiming victory in all five matches played so far to secure the championship. Their path to glory included wins against Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, and Nepal, before Saturday’s decisive triumph over Bhutan. This flawless run has earned the team a total of 15 points.
While the championship title has already been confirmed, Maldives still has one fixture remaining, with a match against Sri Lanka scheduled for Monday.
The achievement carries added significance as the team reached this historic milestone despite the absence of a dedicated indoor futsal facility in Maldives and the numerous challenges faced during their preparations.
This landmark victory marks the first time Maldives has captured an international trophy in the sport of futsal.
