Maldives wins third place

Male', MALDIVES; Maldives has grabbed the third place of the AFC Challenge Cup 2014. After a 0 - 0 score in the ninety minutes of play and a 1 -1 draw in the extra time, match went to Penalty Shootout and it took 18 penalties to decide while only 3 was miss fired. Maldives won the game by 1(8) - 1 (7).

Imran was forced to make a difficult save on Mashriqi's powerful shot from edge of the penalty are in the 8th minute of the game.

Four minutes later Sandhar tried with a long range shot with another pressure on Imran, but it was not enough to beat Imran.

In the 26th minute of the game, Shayesteh's cross from left flank turned dangerously towards Maldives goal but it went inches over the crossbar.

Six minutes remaining in the first half Alkhil delivered a good cross in to penalty area from the right flank but Sandjar fail to reach the lower cross which went across the goal.

In the dying minutes of the first half Amiruddin's back header from Shayesteh's cross missed the target by inches.

In the last minute of the first half Maldives went close to an equalizer, Assdulla failed to incur a touch on Bokury's lower cross from left flank which went off face of the goal.

Just kick off to the second half Amirudeen fired a powerful long range shot from outside the penalty are, but it went wide off the target. Five minutes later Amiruddin tested another shot from edge of the penalty area but again miss the target.

Eighteen minutes remaining in the clock Imran made a stunning save on Amiruddeen's close range shot. Imran tackled and cleared the dangerous close range attempt on target.

Two minutes later Amiruddeen left disappointed again as his timely header from a corner kick went inches away from the near post.

Ten minutes left in full time Asfaq penetrated Afghanistan defense line and delivered a lower cross to Bokury but unmarked Bokury's shot went wide.

In next minute Fasir forced Mansur Faqirya to produce a tough save on his powerful shot from outside the penalty area target to the corner of the goal.

Two minutes remaining in the clock Ashfaq could have killed the game if he could have converted his shot from inside the penalty area in to the goal. Ashfaq's shot hit the wrong side of the net.

After ninety minutes of play with the deadlock match went to the extra time of play.

Six minutes in to the extra time, Hadid's shot from out side the penalty are went out from inches way from the post.

After three minutes to second half Belal Arezou missed a good scoring chance to Afghanistan, Belal was unmarked inside the penalty area, but his weak shot went direct to Imran's hand.

Just eight minutes remaining in the clock Karimi scored the first goal of the game. Shayesteh's cross was flipped when Imran tried to punch it and just from the goal line Karimi scored the awaiting goal for the visitors.

Three minutes later Mansur rescued Afghanistan with a stretched dive for the acrobatic kick from Bonda inside the penalty area.

But the acrobat kick from Fasir through Ashad's cross leveled the game and brought the home crowd back on to their feet.

After 120 minutes of play match went in to penalty shootout as the score was 1 - 1 at the end.

PENALTY SHOOTOUT:

AFGHANISTAN:

ALIKHIL Scored to his right corner

MUSTAFA Scored to his right corner

HADID Imran saved from center

KARIMI Scored to left corner

MANSUR Scored to his left corner

SHIRTIYAR Scored to his left

ZAMIR scored to his left

SAKHIZADA scored to his right

SHAYESTEH Imran saved from his left

MALDIVES:

ASHFAQ Scored to his right corner

AKRAM Scored to his right corner

FASIR Shoots wide off

RILWAN Scored to his right

BONDA Scored to his left corner

HOCKEY Scored to center

ASHAD Scored to his left corner

IMRAN Scored to top net

OPPO Scored and win the shootout