The Maldives National Futsal Team has secured its fourth consecutive victory in the SAFF Futsal Championship, strengthening its position at the top of the league table and moving within a single point of clinching the trophy. The Maldives won the closely contested match against Nepal with a 2-1 scoreline.
From the kickoff, the Maldivian side dominated possession and maintained an offensive stance. Despite creating several dangerous opportunities in the first half, the deadlock remained unbroken, thanks to some impressive saves by the Nepalese goalkeeper and the woodwork denying the Maldives on three separate occasions.
The Maldives took the lead early in the second half, capitalizing on a defensive error by Nepal. Ahmed Hamied intercepted the ball within the Nepalese penalty area, skillfully rounded the goalkeeper, and provided a precise assist to Abdulla Shaffiu, who finished with composure.
However, Nepal responded almost immediately, equalizing within a minute of the opening goal. Bikrath Narsingh Rana found the back of the net by expertly converting a corner kick. Following the equalizer, Nepal intensified their pressure on the Maldivian defense with several successive attacks.
The momentum shifted back to the Maldives with seven minutes remaining on the clock when Nepal’s Amit Lama was shown a red card for a foul on Shaffiu. Captain Mohamed Imran stepped up to take the resulting free kick just outside the penalty area, firing a direct shot into the net to restore the lead. This goal, which proved to be the winner, marked Imran’s seventh goal of the tournament.
The Maldives’ next challenge will be against Bhutan. The national team now requires only two points from its remaining two matches to guarantee the championship. Furthermore, the Maldives could be crowned champions as early as today if the match between Pakistan and Bangladesh ends in a draw.
