In the Dhiraagu Dhivehi Premier League, Club Valencia, fielding a team of young players, has defeated Club Green Streets in their first match. Valencia’s starting 11 primarily consisted of young players. The team mostly includes players from the under-19 national team, with 8 players from that team in Valencia’s lineup. Additionally, it includes players from the under-17 national team, with 8 players from that team as well. The match, played at the National Football Stadium, saw Green Streets fielding many of the same players from their most recent league appearance.
During the first half of the match, neither team had many opportunities to create significant attacks. In the 9th minute, Green Streets’ foreign forward Obaida Kadim Ahmed entered the area and sent a ball that went just wide of the post. In the 14th minute of the match, Valencia’s Ahmed Kiyan Gayash passed the ball, which a player in the area deflected, allowing Valencia’s captain Ethan Ibrahim Zaki, wearing the captain’s armband, to score and take the lead. Ethan also launched an attack in the 24th minute, entering the area. The only other clear chance in the first half came to Valencia’s foreign forward Bouba Silla, who entered the area, evaded two players, but his shot deflected off a Green Streets defender and went out.
Valencia extended their lead in the 66th minute when Ethan crossed the ball, and Bouba headed it into the goal. Even after this goal, Bouba missed another clear chance set up by Ethan. Green Streets scored their goal in added time when their Egyptian player El Sayed calmly set up Obaida, who fired the ball into the top corner of the goal. With this match, all 10 teams in the league have played one game. The second week of league play will begin on Wednesday evening with a match between Club Eagles and Buru Sports Club.
