Maldives under 19 national team has drew the first match in the ongoing AFC U-19 Championship 2018 Qualifiers in Tajikistan over Sri Lanka by 2-2.

Maldives took the lead of the minute in the 15^th minute of the match. Rishwan Ismail (Ricky) scored his very first international goal and first of his for nation by giving the early lead for Maldives. But somehow Sri Lanka managed to level the game in the 45^th minute. Sri Lanka player Razooniya Mohamed scored their frist and equalized the game just before the half time.

Maldives started second half strongly resulting a very early goal within just a minute into the second half. Maldives took the lead of the game for the second time in the 46^th minute from a goal by midfielder Mussanif Mohamed (Musse). Maldives kept their maximum effort to gain the first three points from the qualifiers by stopping Sri Lanka from scoring again.

Sri Lanka once against surprised Maldives side by another late goal in the half ending minutes during the second half. At the added minutes to regular time, Sri Lanka managed to score their second of the evening. It was substitute forward player Malshan leveled the game for the second time.

Sure it won’t be a satisfying result for Maldives youth side as they aimed to give a strong fight to two of their group mates and the very two neighboring nations Sri Lanka and Bangladesh and sharing points from such a game which Maldives almost won.

Maldives under 19 national team head coach Ihsan Abdul Ghani (Saanthi) also talked about the same manner in the press prior to today’s match against Sri Lanka.

“We hope to fight and turn the games on our favor against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. These two teams are within our reach and the other two Uzbekistan and Tajikistan and way above then our level.”

Well, as coach Ihsan said Maldives youth fought well and turned the game on their favor but was not lucky enough to hold to it till last. It seems Maldives youth side has improved their game in the past weeks after the U-18 SAFF. In the  U-18 SAFF Maldives lost to Sri Lanka and now they almost won but was unfortunate and had to share points with neighbor resulting to a very late conceding.

With this result, Maldives under 19 national team has marched one step forward towards their target in the AFC U-19 Championship 2018 Qualifiers.

Speaking to press in Tajikistan, Coach Ihsan said that their target is “not to sit at the bottom”.

Next match for Maldives in AFC U-19 Championship 2018 Qualifiers

Maldives vs Bangladesh, 2nd November 2017, 15:00 hrs (local time).

(Photo: Goalnepal.com)