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2009 SAFF Cup: Holders Maldives Start Campaign With A Draw Against Nepal
The defending champions failed to win their opening game...
05-Dec-2009 5:50:18 PM
Defending champions Maldives could only draw 1-1 against Nepal in their first game of the 2009 SAFF Cup at the Bangabandhu National Stadium, Dhaka on Saturday afternoon.
A second half goal from Ahmed Toriq put Maldives in front but eight minutes later striker Jumanu Rai equalised for Nepal.
Maldives came into this match as favorites but Nepal created the better chances over the course of the ninety minutes.
The Nepalese strike duo of Anil Gurung and Jumanu Rai were looking dangerous in the early stages but it was midfielder Bijay Gurung who tested Maldive keeper Mohammed Imran first, with a speculative long range effort.
The forwards of Maldives were hardly in the game and could only try their luck from distance, none of which troubled Nepal custodian Bikash Malla.
Nepal were looking more ambitious and were looking to get behind the Maldives defence every time they attacked.
Ten minutes before the break, Ibrahim Fazeel came up with Maldives’ best effort of the game as his stunning shot had to be well saved by Malla to prevent a goal.
The champions were ending the half stronger and also had a freekick from just outside the box, a few minutes before the break, but Fazeel failed to hit the target from it.
Maldives were determined to start the second half on the front foot but they nearly conceded when Chetan Ghimire was brilliantly picked out in the box by Anil Gurung but Ghimire failed to take his opportunity as he failed to find the back of the net.
A few minutes later, Chetan had another good chance, after he was once again well set up by Anil Gurung. This time he did find the target but it was straight to keeper Imran.
Nepal were having their best spell of the match but it was Maldives who took the lead in the 61st minute when Ahmed Toriq got on the end of a Mukhtar Naseer cross and coolly slotted the ball past Nepal goalie Malla.
The goal was a big blow to the young Nepal side but they didn’t lose heart and scored the equalizer seven minutes later when Jumanu Rai found the back of the net with a well timed header from a Yogesh Shrestha cross.
Nepal now had the belief to go on and win the game while Maldives were suddenly feeling the pressure which was evident from goalkeeper Imran’s fumble which nearly allowed Sandeep Rai to score but the Nepal player failed to capitalize.
Maldives were hanging on to the draw and were unable to produce anything going forward.
In the 83rd minute Jumanu Rai thought he had scored the winner when he found the back of the net from a Anil Gurung pass. But Rai was ajduged offside and the goal was disallowed.
Deep into the injury time, Maldives keeper Imran produced a splendid save to deny Anil Gurung.
Nepal will feel they deserved to win this game but a point against the defending champions isn’t a bad result. Maldives will have to improve by some distance in their next two games if they want to go past the group stage.
Goalscorers: Ahmed Toriq (Maldives) 61’, Jumanu Rai (Nepal) 67’
Amoy Ghoshal
Inside Goal.Com
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