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Hat-trick hero Ashfaq fires blues to Male' league title
Captain Ali Ashfaq return from a one game suspension in time to fire his side to Male' league champions thanks to a wonderful hat-trick. Blues came out victorious by five nil against bottom club Valencia to be crowned champions of the 2018 STO Male' league with two games to spare.
Adding to New Radiant's impressive trophy collection under Oscar Bruzon is Blues fourth championship in two years. The only competition in the top flight Blues were unable to claim last year was the Male' league.
Blues claim the title with 31 points while second place Maziya have 21 points and third place TC have 19 points to their name. The remaining two games in the league for New Radiant is against TC and Maziya.
Spanish midfield maestro Candela missed the game due to injury and was replaced by former club Eagles captain Imran Nasheed. Afghan defender missed the game due to suspension and was replaced by Spanish center back Jorge Gotor who returned from injury.
After a quite first half Blues took the lead early on in the second half as Valencia's resistance came to an end. Jorge Gotor firing home with a diving header after coming on the end of Ali Fasir's cross.
In the 81st minute Ali Ashfaq doubled the score after an assist from Fasir and four minutes later Fasir's shot was deflected via Shifan into the back of the net.
Ashfaq scored his second and New Radiant's fourth in the 86th minute from the spot and went on to completed his hat-trick in the 91st minute of the game. This time firing into the far corner of the net beyond the reach of Jun.
04 June 2018