Preview: Maldives v Bhutan

Kathmandu, NEPAL - While Maldives preparing to face Bhutan in our second game of this year's SAFF Championship the meetings between the two sides are limited. Maldives faced Bhutan in the SAFF Championship only once, the lowest against any side in the region.

FORM

Maldives are heading into the game on the back of historical win against Sri Lanka in the opening game. A 10-0 hammering of Sri Lanka, well known among Maldivians as the teacher of football to Maldives, was not only a record for Maldives but also a record in SAFF Championship history. The game also mark the very first time a player scored six goals in one game in the competition surpassing the record Afghan did two years back when Arezou scored four goals against Bhutan. Ali Ashfaq's six goal in the game also take his goal tally in the competition history to 14, three ahead of previous record holder of India legend Baichung Bhutia.

Bhutan may not have started the tournament as brightly as Maldives but who would have predicted them to limit the game against Afghanistan to just three goals. They could have even produced a shock had they scored the penalty when the score was just 1-0. Nevertheless, the result sent a message to their opponents that they are not just "kidding" here.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS

Maldives and Bhutan met only twice in the past and only once in the SAFF Championship. In 2003, during the SAFF Championship in Dhaka Maldives started the tournament against Bhutan with a 6-0 win. Mohamed Nizam scored for Maldives just two minutes into the game. Ali Shiham became the first Maldivian to score an international hat trick with his strikes in the 24th, 25th and 67th minute. Ali Umar, who scored Maldives' sixth goal in the game is the only goal scorer survived in the current squad.

In 2009, Maldives faced Bhutan in AFC Challenge Cup qualifying game which Maldives won by 5-0. Ali Ashfaq scored twice and Mohamed Umair scored once in the game.

INTERESTING FACTS

Maldives have a habit of scoring early goals against Bhutan. In 2003, Thoddoo Nizam scored in the 2nd minute while in 2009 Ali Ashfaq scored in the 4th minute. Also Maldives is one of the three nations where Bhutan is yet to score a goal, the other two are Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

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