SAFF Championship

FE Team | Published: December 12, 2009 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00

Maldives' Ashfag Ali celebrates after scoring against Sri Lanka in the first semi final of the Bangabandhu SAFF Championship Friday. — bdnews24.com Photo

The holders Maldives stormed into the final of the SAFF Championship crushing their neighbour Sri Lanka by 5-1 goals in the first semifinal at the Bangabandhu National Stadium in the city Friday, reports UNB.
They will play the final Sunday at 7:00 pm against the winners of Bangladesh-India match.
In the day's first semis, Fazeel Ibrahim struck twice, while skipper Ashraf Ali, Ahmed Thoriq and substitute Ali Assad scored one each for the winners who dominated the first half by 1-0 goals while striker EB Channa scored the face-saving goal for the losers.
The Maldives earned the deserving victory dominating their neighbour for most of the period.
Ahmed Thoriq opened the floodgate for the Maldives in the 20th minute by a good header from a goalmouth melee off an Ashfaq Ali pass (1-0).
EB Channa neutralised the margin for Sri Lanka in the 62nd minute by a cool placing shot from a close distance finding helpless opponent custodian at his mercy off a defence lapse (1-1).
But the Lankan joy was very short-lived as Fazeel Ibrahim again put the Maldives ahead just two minutes later by a ground shot from top of the box that kissed the Lankan net making fool a couple of defenders and custodian Sadhish Kumar (2-1).
The Maldives skipper-cum-booter Ashfaq Ali further widened the margin in the 76th minute by an eye-catching left wing shot from a very difficult angle after receiving the ball from midfield (3-1).
The Maldives took a comfortable 4-1 lead in the 83rd minute from a penalty goal. Indian Referee Sri Nivasan awarded a penalty in favour of the Maldives when Sri Lankan substitute booter brought down onrushing striker Ashfaq in the danger zone and Fazeel Ibrahim did no mistake to convert a spot kick (4-1).
Substitute Ali Assad completed the winners' tally (5-1) adding one more goal in the 87th minute by an accurate header off an Ashfaq Ali pass.
Sri Lanka made some resistance in the early 2nd half but failed to manage any clear chance and left with a humiliating defeat.