Blues at the top after round one

Team mates congratulate Ashfaag

Male', MALDIVES - New Radiant confirmed the top spot of round one of Dhiraagu Dhivehi League after passing through the helpless FVD in last night’s goal fiesta encounter. New Radiant scored 8 goals without any reply from the opponent and one player stole the limelight of the night by scoring five of New Radiant’s eight goals and he is of no surprise; Ali Ashfaag.

Ashfaag, the man widely known as the man of steel, broke the deadlock in the 13th minute and three minutes later he was again on the spotlight, beating two of his markers he comfortably converted the ball beating the keeper as well.

Two goals were the lead New Radiant had at the half time and FVD tried in their chances to trouble the champions, but they couldn’t do it enough.

Five minutes after the restart of the game, Ashfaag grabbed his hat trick through a powerful header from Akram’s corner.

In the 57th minute Arfiu sent a long pass to Ashfaag, who was marked by two FVD defenders but still he found enough space to fire a shot that changed the score to 4 nil.

Then came the captain’s chance; in the 64th minute Assad released a powerful header from Adam’s corner to make it 5 nil.

In the 77th minute Ashfaag once again fooled his markers beating both of them and sending the ball to the back of FVD net to make it 6 nil.

Shimaz also added his name to the score sheet in the 82nd minute and Assad scored the last one five minutes from time.

After the match, FVD coach Lirqam Saeed was happy about the result and he said their target was not to finish at the bottom.

‘I  am happy with the result, there is no difference for us on the result’ He said.

‘We were knocked out even before the game, so I guess the players make it too easy today’

‘The players have been away from their home for so long and that has some impact on the players’

‘Team management told me that they don’t want to end up at the bottom, so we have achieved our target’ He said about ending the league on fifth position.

‘We have talented players and I think four of them will get a call from some big teams ’

Meanwhile New Radiant coach Gerd said the game was Ashfaag’s festival and he also sent condolences to Shamveel as his 18 year old brother in law died today in a heart attack.

‘Today’s Ashfaag’s festival, I told him today is his day. He was hungry for goals’

‘We really missed Shamveel. His brother in law died today in a heart attack and he was in Addu’

‘We send our condolences to him’

When asked him about how satisfied he is with the results of first round he replied: ‘Definitely I am not satisfied’

‘We lost to Maziya and Valencia, which we should have won’

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