WIFA - The Western India Football Association

A goal deep into second half stoppage time by Ahmed Rasheed saw Maldives edge past Syria 2-1 and stay in the hunt for a place in the final of the Nehru Cup at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Monday (August 27). The loss rang exit bells for Syria. While Maldives have 6 points from three matches, Syria could muster only 1 from that many outings.

Rasheed scored in the dying minutes of the match latching on to a cross from his captain Ali Asfaq. Ali had found the back of the net earlier in the 59^th minute when he headed home from close range from a Umair Mohammed floater. But his goal was cancelled out by an acrobatic bicycle kick from Syrian striker Alaa Al Shbli in the 81^st minute.

Maldives’ celebrations were cut short when their coach Istvan Urbanyi was shown the red card for not being able to control his emotions and kicking a water bottle.

Earlier, torrential downpour forced the match to start 75 minutes late. The islanders came close to scoring in the 3^nd minute but captain Ali’s left footer flew over the bar from inside the box. Then in the 19^th minute, Syria’s Yasir Shushara broke away from his markers to head a Mohammed Zahir Almedani corner. A goal line clearance by Maldives’ Abdulla Asadhulla came to the rescue.

Abdulla came close to scoring in the 39^th minute but veteran goalkeeper Mosab Balhos charged forward to collect the ball from a one on one situation.