DDPL: TC climbs to fourth spot while Maziya, Eagles match end in goalless draw

TC Sports Club has climbed to the fourth sport in the Dhiraagu Dhivehi Premier League (DDPL) after beating Club Green Streets on Friday, while table-toppers Maziya Sports and Recreation Club failed to secure a win against Club Eagles.

The first match of the day was between TC and Green Streets.

Both teams had multiple chances to take the lead during the first half of the game, but failed to do so.

The match’s only goal was during the second half, at the 65th minute. TC Captain Mohamed Azzam netted the ball after an impressive pass by Ibrathim Atheeq Hussain.

While the club had more openings to score during the rest of the game, the game ended 1-nil.

Speaking after the match, TC coach Mohamed Shazly (Shaz) expressed content in having achieving their aim for the game, to earn three points, as well as ending the first round of the league in the top four.

Green Streets Ali Nisthar said that luck was not on their side, adding that a number of their players are injured of recovering from injuries.

While TC heads to the fourth spot in the league table with the win, Green Streets is in sixth place -out of eight- with eight points in seven games.

Maziya VS Club Eagles

Maziya, Club Eagles match end in a goalless draw. Photo: FAM

Last season’s champions, Maziya Sports and Recreation Club faced Club Eagles for the first time on Friday, since its loss to them in the FA Charity Shield Cup match held in December last year.

The two clubs faced each other in the match held to commemorate the start of the football season in December, and Eagles took the match with a 3-2 score.

Friday's match ended in a goalless draw.

This was Eagles’ first match since the resignation of head coach, Mohamed Shiyaz (Mohan), who signed on with Super United Sports (SUS) earlier this week.

Both teams showed an equal performance during the match, and had multiple scoring opportunities.

Speaking after the game, Eagle’s assistant coach who took over after Mohan’s departure from the team, Ahmed Nimad thanked the players for pouring their all into the field. While he expressed disappointment in the team’s sloppy passing but highlighted improvements in their defensive tactics. Nimad said that they were unlucky, even missing a penalty kick, but said that the player’s ability to hold block the reigning champs from scoring is positive.

Maziya’s coach, recently appointed Risto Vidakovic said that he “expected something like this” after the last two wins, which he indicated has gone to the players’ heads. Noting that they needed to be brought back “to the ground,” the coach said that they “need to play more as a team, not individually”.

Further referring to the clubs loss against Eagles at the FA Charity Cup before his appointment as coach, Vidakovic noted that Eagles seems to be tough team for Maziya “historically”.

Despite the draw, Maziya remains of top of the league table with 15 points, while Eagles who has been having a rough season so far, is in second last spot with five points in seven games.