Victory and Valencia end up all square

Victory celebrates Lareef's goal, that gave them a 2-1 lead for 15 minutes

Male', MALDIVES - Victory and Valencia ended up with two goals a piece in their Dhiraagu Dhivehi League second round clash played today. Valencia took the lead from Shinaz in the 25th minute and Victory leveled before the half time from Izzath’s stunner and took the lead from Lareef’s 65th minute strike, but Felix made it all square nine minutes before the time.

Victory and Valencia's round one clash was also ended up in a draw but it was 1-1 in round one as Valencia leveled in the dying minutes of the game.

In today's game, Assad missed two very open chances in the early stage of the game to put Victory in a comfortable lead, but couldn’t take full use of any of that efforts and Valencia took the lead from their very first chance of the game.

Fexli sent the ball to unmarked Shinaz in the 25th minute and he made no mistake in sending the ball below the diving keeper.

In the 40th minute, Azim could have doubled the lead for Valencia but his failure to use the opportunity gifted Victory a goal before the half time. Umair took the ball away from Azim and sent a long ball to sprinted Izzath, who scored beautifully to make it all even at half time.

In the 58th minute Assad sent a good ball into Valencia penalty area, but Jameel cleared it before Izzath reaches.

Victory took the lead in the 65th minute from Lareef’s nicely executed free kick, keeper Rameez dived, but couldn’t prevent it crossing the line.

Victory couldn’t hold on with the one goal lead for long as Felix rescued Valencia in the 81st minute. Wahid dribbled into Victory penalty area and clashed with keeper before he took the shot and the lonely ball fell into Felix, who made no mistake in front of the goal.

After the game Victory coach Mauroof was disappointed that they couldn’t get full points from the game, he also said they need to think how to maintain the lead when they get it.

“We missed many chances, we lost the chances to get three points” he said.

“The last fifteen minutes we couldn’t play like we did in first half, we just kicked the ball away”

“In the future we need to think how to maintain the lead when we get it”

“It’s a big loss that we couldn’t get three points from today’s game”

Valencia coach Binma said the draw is not a bad result for them but they came with the spirit of winning the game

“We came with the spirit of winning the three points, we failed to achieve that because we missed many chances” He said.

“Draw is not a problem, sometimes it happens as players couldn’t finish the chances well”

He also praised Felix for his contribution: “I am happy about his performance, he wasn’t 100% fit”

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