Today, in Tajikistan, in the ongoing AFC U-19 Championship 2018 Qualifiers, in the third match of the qualification, Maldives under 19 national team has lost to Uzbekistan. Uzbekistan juniors felt the resistance from Maldives juniors, hence managed to win the match with a big 6-0 score.

Maldives faced the match after a disappointing 2-2 draw against Sri Lanka in the first match, and a very late defeat to Bangladesh in the second match.  On the other hand, Uzbekistan entered the match with confidence as they made their first win with a bag of goals against Sri Lanka, 10-0, during their first match.

Today’s match was third match in six days for Maldives while second match in three days for Uzbekistan.

As Maldives under 19 national team head coach, Ihsan Abdul Ghani (Saanthi) said in the pre match press that their target in the current AFC U-19 Championship 2018 Qualifiers, is not to end the campaign as last in the group.

Maldives entered the match with a single change to starting line up from the previous. Maldives under 19 juniors was kept busy all the time by the moral high Uzbekistan. Maldives side kept blocking and defending at any cost and keeping away Uzbekistan finding the back of the net.

Despite all the effort from Maldives, they could not keep the very superior Uzbekistan from taking the lead. At the 22^nd minute, forward Jumaklov score his first and gave 1-0 lead to his side. And the second one came 7 minutes before the break. In the 38^th minute Kenjabaev scored his first of the match and second of the match, making it 2-0 and stepping off of the pitch for the break with a satisfaction.

In the second half, Uzbekistan kept playing with confidence and the dominance was shown all over the pitch as they managed to score their third in the 53^rd  minute. Midfielder Saitov made it 3-0 for Uzbekistan. Maldives midfield was kept work loaded by the Uzbekistan side and Maldives coach Ihsan was force to deploy fresh feets in to the game. Just after Uzbekistan’s third, in the 54^th minute, Maldives made their first substitute of the match, taking off a midfielder, Mohamed Yazdhan and bringing in a more defensive player, Saifulla Ibrahim.

It did not take long for Uzbekistan from scoring their fourth. After Saitov’s third of the match, 7 minutes after, Kenjabaev scored his second and fourth for his side making it 4-0. And again 7 minutes later Askarov for Uzbekistan made it 5-0. And the last of the match came in 71^st minute from defender Rakhimov.

Uzbekistan has now secured their way in to AFC U-19 Championship 2018 as they made their second win against Maldives today, in total netting 16 goals and conceding none.

Maldives last match in the qualification will be against hosting nation Tajikistan on the 6th November at 17:00 hours in local time. And Currently Maldives sits in the 4th position in the group ranking with one single point. Sri Lanka also has a point but due to more number of goal conceding, they sit at the bottom currently. Sri Lanka will face Bangladesh in both sides last encounter in the qualification. As Bangladesh is a strong side in the south Asian region it is believed that Sri Lanka may face huge problem to win against them and if it happens to be case, for Maldives, they might secure the 4th position despite a defeat to the hosts.

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

Tajikistan vs Maldives, 6th November 2017, 17:00 hrs (local time).

(Photo: Bangladesh Football Federation)