Maldives 3-1 Bangladesh: Ahmed Tariq’s Brace Seals A Semis Spot For The Red Snappers

Maldives downed the highest ranked team in the competition 3-1 to top group B and thus seal a spot in the final four.

A first half brace by Ahmed Tariq and another by Ali Ashfaq was enough for the Island nation to register their first victory in the group.

Nepal and Maldives finished with five points each and their head-to-head record didn’t count as they had played an entertaining 1-1 draw on matchday one, but since the latter has a better goal difference +2 as compared to +1 of the former, Istvan Urbanyi’s side topped their group.

Maldives started with the same line-up from the previous match while Bangladesh made three changes as skipper Sujan, Shahedul Alam Shahed and Mithun Chowdhury made their way in.

It was Maldives who came close to scoring in the very second minute as Ahmed Thariq gets to the end of a cross from Ismail Mohamed but the Bangladesh goalkeeper Sahidul Alam gathered the ball in time.

Four minutes later Thariq did put his side ahead with a stooping header at the far post after Mohammed Umair puts in a delightful cross from the right.

Thereafter Maldives created several chances with Ali Ashfaq putting through Ibrahim Fazeel but the Bangladesh defenders just about avert the danger.

Ashfaq dribbled past several Bangladesh players and sent the ball across the face of the goal for Thariq to tap-in and make it 2-0.

Emon Mahmud had a chance to pull one back for the Bengal Tigers as he chose to have a go instead of setting-up his team-mates who were in a far better and advanced positions.

It was Shahedul Alam Shahed who curled the ball over goalkeeper Imran Mohammed to bring his side into the match after Nasirul Islam Nasir pulled it back for the midfielder.

Ashfaq came close to adding his name on the scoresheet from a free-kick which was parried over by Sahidul Alam.

In the second half, Ashfaq had another opportunity which went begging as from a quick counterattack, his first time shot went wide.

Bangladesh had more possession but failed to create much as Maldives didn’t allow them much opportunity though they were guilty of conceding too many free-kicks.

The third goal came in the 70^th minute as Ashfaq rounded off the onrushing Sahidul Alam to simply place the ball into an empty net.

Maldives could have finished off the game as a contest when Ibrahim Fazeel should have done better from inside the box as his shot was way too weak.

Shamweel Qasim’s cross from the right saw Mithun Chowdhury miss a glorious opportunity to score in the 80^th minute.