Maldives has registered there third defeat in the on going SAFF U-18 Championship 2017 after loosing to Nepal in today’s match by 2-0.

Maldives has lost the previous two meetings by 2-0, 2-0 and 2-0 against Bhutan, Bangladesh and Nepal respectively. The last match for Maldives will be against India.

Maldives started the match with a 3 changes to the first match starting line up. The starting first eleven players were, Ahmed Samaah as the gaol keeper and infront of him Ali Shamaal, Mohamed Azzam, Hussain Faisal and Ishag Rasheed as the back four. Mohamed Yazdhan lead the team as the captain and he was companied by Nisham and Mohamed Mussanif as th emid fielders. In the fron three, forward Tholal was back by Mohamed Jailam and Ismail Vifag in the side flanks.

The first goal of the match was due to a defensive error. Just six minute in the clock, Nepalese player’s long ball outside from the box was targeted to the far post of the goal which Maldives defender Mohamed Azzam (Edu) tried to clear by heading. But he could not reach out the ball well and ball went in to the far post net leaving Maldives goal keeper Ahmed Samaah clue less , who was expecting the ball to be clear by the defence line.

Somehow Maldives managed to end the first half of the match without giving chance for Nepal side to score another before interval.

During the second half, at the 56th minute Maldives suffered from another goal conceding. Nepal’s long cross from the right flank of the pitch was targeted to the another Nepal player waiting at the centre of the box who was marked by the Maldives defence. Yet Maldives defence was unable to stop the Nepal player from scoring their second goal with a brilliant header.

Maldives got numbers of free kicks during the match and could not create enough chances from the set pieces.

Nepal got another brilliant chance at the extra time of regular time. A penalty for awarded to Nepal and unfortunately that Nepal could not bring a difference to the score line while the penalty was missed hitting the cross bar.

It is the 3rd match in five days as Maldives players felt tiredness during the match in the foreign soil. Maldives under 19 head coach, Ihsan Abdul Ghani also highlighted in the post match press talks about the fact of players tiredness effected the match’s performance.

“ It is our third match in five days. Player are suffering from tiredness. We get only one day to rest. It is Nepal’s second and our third and obviously Nepal players will be more fresh than ours.”

Coach Ihsan also commented about the concerns over the results in the tournament.

“ Actualy the result is not that much big concern for me. Our players have just started. This is the very first international tournament for majority of the squad and the very first abroad trip for them too. So, in shaa Allah we are trying with patience to show that our juniors sides also can shine in the region in the future.”

Maldives last match in the SAFF U-18 Championship will be against India.

It is clear that Maldives have to end the championship with out reaching their target. Even though Maldives under 19 side could not bring good results from the championship, the experience and the exposure from these tournaments can help in many ways at the development for these promising junior players.

(Photo: GoalNepal.com)