In the ongoing Milo Inter School Football Tournament 2018’s under 16 age category’s first place of the final has being secured by last year’s runner up Iskandharu School.

Today evening in the first semifinal match, last year’s runner up, Iskandharu School faced Ahmadhiyya International School. Iskandharu won the match on penalties by 3-4 after a 1-1 regular time score.

In the first half of the game, Iskandharu was looked as little bit shaky when it comes to defend the ball in red’s box. But promising when ball goes on attack. On the other hand, Ahmadhiyya gray boys kept close eye on Iskandharu’s brilliant paced forward, J.No#10 , Ibrahim Imran (Immi), throughout the match.

And Ahamdhiyya forward line gave a busy time to Iskandharu defense line.

In the 3^rd minute of the match, the current top scorer of the tournament so far, Ahmadhiyya’s forward, Aalim Abdul Latheef scored a goal but unfortunately assistant referee on the side line signaled it as an offside. Just before the half time, Iskandharu took the lead of the match. A brilliant goal by red’s very talented forward, Ibrahim Imran scored the goal at the 32rd minute. He managed to put the ball in the back of Ahmadhiyya’s goal while he was sourounded by 5 defenders..

Match went to interval with a 0-1 score Ikandharu School on lead.

In the second half, Ahamdhiyya improved their effort on the pitch, as a result the game levelled from a goal by Captain Ibrahim Azaan at the 52nd minute. He found an un-cleared ball inside the box and placed it well into the goal to make it 1-1 in score line.

Last 20 minutes of the games was played under heavy rain. At the 60th minute, Ahamdhiyya defender, J.No#3, Mark Joseph was penalized and shown Red card after a second yellow. He was sent off for a foul he committed to Iskandharu’s forward, Ibrahim Imran, as he stopped Imran from a counter attack. Last 15 minutes of the game Ahmadhiyya played with one player down.

As Ahmadhiyya was playing to keep up with the 1-1 score with 10 players, it was Iskandharu who came very close to score a goal. Again Iskandharu forward, Imran got a golden chance to change the game on red’s favor scoring another goal but Iskandharu was denied by a fearless save from Ahamdhiyya goal keeper, Abdulla Shafiu. The chance was from a mistake by one of the Ahmadhiyya midfielders, Imran was quick enough to collect the ball and with pace he ran into the box and faced the 1v1 against Ahmadhiyya goal keeper, Shafiu. Imran’s low driving shot was brilliantly saved by Shafiu. Game ended its regular time with a 1-1 draw. To decide the semifinal winner, match went into deciding penalty shootouts.

Ahmadhiyya’s Aalim stood to take the first of gray’s. And he brilliantly scored it. Iskandharu’s first was scored by Ismail Yooh. And when it came to Ahmadhiyya’s second penalty, J.no#19 went on but unfortunatly it was saved by Iskandharu goal keeper. For the second one of reds, Yaish Mosthafa stepped in, and he scored his making it 2-3 on score. Sadly, Ahmadhiyya’s third one by J. No#8 also was saved by Iskandharu goal keeper. And Iskandharu made the advantage of the situation and Mohamed Eekal scored red’s third one. When it came to fourth penalty, match was in a situation where Iskandharu will win if Ahmadhiyya did not score their fourth as it was 2-4 on the score line. But Ahamdhiyya’s fourth was scored by J.No # 9, Lamaa Zuhair and Iskandharu was kept on waiting for little longer. It made the score line 3-4. Mohamed Rifag from Iskandharu went on to take their fourth. And he was denied by Ahmadhiyya goal keeper he saved Mohamed Rifag’s penalty. Rayyan from Ahmadhiyya came up to take their fifth one and his try was saved by Iskandharu goal keeper. Iskandharu was decided as the winner of the semifinal first match with 3-4 final score.

With this victory, Iskandharu will be playing in their second age group final in straight two years. Their opponent in the final will be known after the second semifinal match between Imaduddin School and K.Guraidhoo School. Second semifinal match will be played tomorrow evening at 16:00 hrs in the tournament venue, Henveiru Ground.

Photo by our image partner: Images.Mv