Maldives has recorded their first win of the SAFF Championship 2021, the first championship hosted solely on its soil, after beating Bangladesh 2-0 in a pulsating clash at the National Stadium tonight.
Both teams had half-chances in the first forty-five minutes with the Maldives coming closest to breaking the deadlock with some near misses.
Maldivian talisman Ali Ashfaq played a key part in the build-up play and had managed to find teammates in a better position even when at least two or three Bangladeshi players surrounded him each time he got the ball.
Ashfaq himself fired a shot at the top left corner of the Bangladeshi goal in the dying minutes of the first half only for it to be palmed away by the Bangladeshi goalkeeper.
The Maldives started the second half brightly and soon were awarded for their efforts.
In the 55th minute of the match, when a ball from a corner fell nicely at the feet of Hamza Mohamed, he didn't hesitate for a second to unleash a scissor cut shot that nestled at the bottom left corner of the Bangladeshi goal.
It was a great moment for the young forward who had been booked earlier in the game for simulation who went on to score his first goal for the national team at a SAFF Championship tournament.
Though Bangladesh rarely threatened the Maldivian goal, the Red Snappers secured the result from the penalty spot on the 73rd of the match. Ali Ashfaq converted from the penalty spot to score his 21st goal for the national team.
The win lifts the hosts to 3rd place on the tournament table while Bangladesh remains second after getting four points from 3 matches.
