Maldives finishes WCQ with a win

Mar 29, 2016 - 08:46:20 | Shimaaz Ali
Maldives team players celebrating the goal from Naiz (Photo: Ibrahim Faid)

Male’, MALDIVES – Ali Ashfaq scored twice against Bhutan in the second half to beat them by 4-2 tonight at National Football Stadium in the 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifier.

Bhutan started the game very well and they were very organized at the beginning of the match.

Maldives striker Asadhulla Abdulla missed a golden opportunity to break the deadlock when Hamza supplied a good cross from the right flank but his shot went wide.

Chencho opened the scoring for Bhutan after a solo effort inside the Maldives penalty area.

In the 13th minute Chencho supplied another descent ball into the box after beating two defenders bur Samooh blocked Tshering Dorji’s effort.

Asadhulla Abdulla leveled the game for the Maldives in the 36th minute from a superb volley inside the box.

Three minutes later Hamza hits the woodwork from a wonderful shot inside the box.

In the 47th minute Tshering Dorji took the lead for the visitors for the second time from a penalty when referee awarded them a penalty for a handball from Ahmed Abdulla.

Ashfaq scored twice against Bhutan tonight. (Photo: Ibrahim Faid)Ashfaq scored twice against Bhutan tonight. (Photo: Ibrahim Faid)

In the 80th minute Ali Ashfaq leveled the game for the Maldives from a penalty when Bhutanese defender inside the box brought him down.

Six minutes later substitute player Naiz Hassan took the lead for the Maldives from a wonderful header inside the box.

Ashfaq changed the score to 4-2 in the additional time of the game from a wonderful shot inside the box.

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Boyko on Mar 30
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This coach’s tenure speaks for itself: No apperent gameplan, weak defense, messed-up holding midfield, lack of self belief. This has been Maldives template under his tutelage. Add to this the recipes for a poorly organised team. They still kick the ball from defense aimlessly up the field, moving the ball slowly and play back passes one too many as if evading responsiblity. It is clear to eveyone Maldives team has regressed since the last few months. He is not able to plug the holes in defence. Players positional awareness is low, don't close down, leave too many gaps when the opposition is on attack. There is no creativity in the middle of the park, just hit and run stuff like 80s. Lucky we survived another big scare just like the first leg in Bhutan. Either players are not good enough or this coach is not good enough. For what i have seen so far i will go with the latter.
rauli on Mar 31
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congratulation maldives for the win with a individual effort as everyone knows , maldives didnt played as a team and win its a individual solo, and one thing about ricki herbert he didnt came here for the football ,he came here with the project in his mind, wanted to play against big teams ,[ i mean rich teams ], money is his first preority, he never let people to focus on his current failure , he never talk on current game problems in post game media conference also, he always talk about his future plans and making people minds out of his current failure and focus on far from his failure, he is playing mind game against the failed sports jounalists in this country, search internet about this coach, yes he took the team to the world cup, but now his philosophy is keeping all young players every team he goes result failled in every teams most of the matches [ 80 percent ] he coached was failed, look at his wikipedia the games he coached , failed so far failed, he is a failure and he is continuing his failed philosophy it in the maldives
commentator on Mar 31
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Yes the score says it is a win and it all that matter. BUT. Really bad performance from the team AGAIN. This coach should be sacked. And congratulations to Bhutan on their performance with a local coach. Fear us not we no longer a footballing nation we are politifags.
footballmad on Apr 04
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Some good goals by both teams, especially, Asadhulla's and Naiz's. Lucky that we had Dhagey in the team!

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