The first match of Group B saw Maldives clinch a 3-1 win over Bhutan in a game that was filled with plenty of chances for both sides
Agencies
Trivandrum
Maldives played attacking football from the first minute till the final whistle to hold off a Bhutan side who failed to match the attacking ability of their counterparts. The first match of Group B saw Maldives clinch a 3-1 win over Bhutan in a game that was filled with plenty of chances for both sides.
In a game full of goal scoring chances especially for Maldives, Ashfaq started proceedings by getting in behind Bhutan defence twice in the opening few minutes only for the defenders to launch the ball into the stands.
Bhutan were off to terrible start, and were pushed onto the backfoot by Maldives right from the first minute. Maldives were allowed to play their natural game, with plenty of spaces for Ashfaq and Abdhulla to attack.
As the match went on, it was Maldives who were having the better of the ball. And they did not have to wait long for the opening goal. In the 8th minute, a terrific ball over the top by Captain Ali Ashfaq found Imaaz Ahmed who got the better of Bhutan defenders before slotting the ball into the back of the net.
Bhutan’s first chance fell to Chencho Gyeltshen whose scuffed shot beat the keeper and the post. In the 18th minute, Tshering Dorji found himself in plenty of space inside the box before curling a low shot into the net to make it 1-1.
Bhutan continued to create chances at regular intervals in the game after the goal. In the 22nd minute the ball fell to Chencho again and he got the better of Ali Amdhan before unleashing a powerful strike that could only trouble the sidenetting.
Maldives continued to push for more goals and in the 23rd minute, Imaaz Ahmed slid into the box fully stretched to try and get to the end of a good cross from but he missed the ball by inches.
Two minutes later, Ali Ashfaq decided to take matters into his own hands and had a shot at goal that troubled Hari Gurung, who had to hold onto it from the on rushing Ahmed. The hardwork payed off as Asadhulla tapped the ball into the net from a inswinging corner to give back the lead to the island nation on 31 minutes.
As the game neared the half time whistle a defence splitting pass put Ashfaq through on goal but the Maldives skipper lingered on the ball for far too long before passing it to Abdulla whose shot was well saved.
On the stroke of half time, it was young forward Hamza Mohamad’s turn to take a shot at goal although this time from outside the box but that too, like plenty others , were saved by Hari Gurung.
The second half started in entertaining fashion as Ali Ashfaq tried to play a one-two with Abdhulla but the ball was intercepted well. Bhutan created a chance at the other end courtesy of a good cross field ball from Tshering Dorji which found Chencho on the right, before firing a shot straight at the body of the defender.
Five minutes into the second half, Maldives could have scored twice in two minutes if not for some brilliant goalkeeping by Hari Gurung. At first a fully stretched dive to keep Imaz Ahmed at bay, then a save to deflect Ashfaq’s shot away from goal.
The match had become more open as Bhutan searched for an equalizer as Biren Basnet found space to attack on the right before shooting on goal, only for it to hit the post.
Abdhulla then picked the ball up in midfield before laying it onto Imaz Ahmed to his right. The impressive forward showed the full back a clean pair of heels to get into the box but couldn’t get his shot away in time.
Bhutan were getting desperate to grab a goal and Karma Shedrup was the next player to find himself at the end of a good ball from midfield but Mohamad Imran was there in time to claim the ball before he could reach to it.
But the next goal in the game would come from the other end and on 70 minutes, it was the captain Ali Ashfaq who struck a powerful shot that crashed into the net to extend the lead.
Maldives seemed content with their two goal cushion and it was evident in their substituitions. They brought on Ibrahim Ansar to replace Asadhulla with ten minutes to go.
Bhutan were unable to fashion any key chances in the final minutes of the game as Maldives dominated possession and saw out a comfortable but entertaining 3-1 victory.
