The U-18 age group games of the Mamen Inter School Football Tournament started last Tuesday and the opening match was between CHSE and Ahmadhiyya, the defending champions and the most successful team of the age group with 5 titles to their name.

After a week show in the previous tournament there was not much expectations with a win for CHSE before the game. Looking shortly into the history of both teams, CHSE has played several tournaments in the age group but haven’t yet made it into a final. In 2017 the team lost to Dh.A.E.C in a game which if they won they would play in the final. Last year, even with many national team players and star juniors from U-15 Inter School Tournaments, CHSE failed to deliver. They drew against B.A.E.C and lost against VIHS and Ahmadhiyya which knocked them out of the tournament.

Ahmadhiyya on the other hand is the most successful team I this age group having 5 titles to their name, 4 of them being consecutive. Their race for the 5^th consecutive title was cut short by weak performances in 2017 which saw them lose all 3 games, which included them losing from a winning position with a 4 goal lead in the first half, which VIHS improved on in the next half and made a comeback which ended the game 6-5. Last year however they showed great performances and eventually got back on their throne.

Tuesday’s evening game between these two sides started off in an exciting manner. Both teams played really well however, CHSE had a slight upperhand in terms of attack. And that was rewarded in the 25^th minute as Mohamed Maaish Mausoom netted the first goal of the U-18 tournament. The first half went on to end in the same score. After the half time talks a much improved CHSE side came into show with a much more dominant style of play. Two minutes into the half Ahmed Zayan Ishaq’s strike ended in Ahamdhiyya’s net doubling their lead. Twenty minutes later Mohamed Maaish Mausoom completed his brace with the last goal of the game.

This 3-0 win put CHSE on top as of then. After the game the hopes for CHSE has grown as last year’s champions were defeated by them. The game that followed the next evening however, put VIHS on top as they thrashed Rehendhi 11-0.

Last year’s finalists and the champions of 2017 showed absolute dominance from the start netting in the 3^rd minute courtesy of Ismail Mimrah Mueen. That was followed by two quick fire strikes by Hamdhoon Abdul Latheef in the 17^th and 18^th minutes. Ismail Mimrah Mueen worsened the struggle for Rehendhi to cope as he scored in the last minute of the first half. That goal probably took all hopes away from Rehendhi as they showcased a much weaker performance in the half that followed. Eight minutes into the half Ahmed Samah scored VIHS’s 5^th and in the 55^th minute Ismail Mimrah Mueen completed his hat-trick which was followed by Mohamed Looth Ibrahim’s goal a minute later. Mimrah was not yet done though. The VIHS no.21 scored another 3 goal and completed a double hat-trick in the span of 4 minutes, scoring in the 67^th, 69^th and the 71^st minute. That was followed three minutes later by the 11^th and final goal for VIHS by Ahmed Ishaan.

That win put VIHS comfortably on top with a massive goal difference. Today’s (22^nd March, 2019 / Friday) evening game will feature CHSE against Ghaazee. An important game to win for CHSE if they are to regain that top spot. This will be followed by Ahmadhiyya against Rehendhi.

Stay tuned to Boalha.mv for the latest scores and updates on the tournament. The match livestream will be available on Boalha.mv site by Half Court Maldives.

Photo: Our photography partner Images.mv