Preview: Afghanistan v Maldives

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Group top is the target - Urbanyi

Ashfaq will face Afghanistan

Kathmandu, NEPAL – Maldives shocked the region in the ongoing SAFF Championship after scoring 18 goals in just two matches. In this two matches ace striker Ali Asfhaq scored 10 goals to become the top scorer in this tournament.

Maldives has Afghanistan in their final game of the group today. Both the teams are qualified for the semi final of the tournament.

Afghanistan v Maldives

SAFF Championship 2013

Venue: Dashrath Rangasala Stadium, Kathmandu

Kick-off: 1530 (1445 hours Maldives time)

TEAM NEWS

When Maldives plays against Afghanistan today they were the highest ranked team in the region and it will be a tough test for the Maldives.

Maldives captain Ali Ashfaq has scored thrice against Afghanistan and current coach Istvan Urbanyi was the head coach of Maldives in 2009 as well.

MATCH PREVIEW

Urbanyi said that his target is to go to the final either playing against India or Nepal. But also he accept that the home crowd will be an advantage for Nepal.

“We played against Nepal two years ago in AFC challenge cup competition and that was full crowd and it was a very competitive match and we won it. If we play Nepal or if we play India, either way our target is to go to final. Definitely Nepal is having the home advantage, not only because of the crowd, there are some other reasons as well”

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Maldives played just two games against Afghanistan and that was in the SAFF championship 2005 in Karachi, Pakistan and 2009 SAFF Championship 2009 in Dhaka, Bangladesh. 

In 2005 Maldives won the game by 9-1. Ibrahim Fazeel and Ahmed Thoriq scored a hat trick while Ali Ashfaq scored two goals. And in 2009 Ali Ashfaq scored twice and Ahmed Thoriq scored a goal against the Afghans.

PROBABLE LINE UP

Imran Mohamed (GK), Akram Abdul Ghani, Shafiu Ahmed, Mohamed Sifan (Kudattey), Mohamed Rasheed (Hokey), Mohamed Arif (Bakaa), Ali Umar, Asadhulla Abdulla, Ahmed Niyaz, Ali Ashfaq, Mohamed Umair.