Maldives knock Bangladesh out of SAFF football

Bangladesh made an early exit from the seven-nation SAFF Suzuki Cup football tournament losing to the Maldives by 1-3 goals in their Group-B match at the Trivandrum International Stadium in Kerala, India on Saturday, reports news agency UNB.
After the day’s result, the islander nation Maldives confirmed their semi-final berth in the South Asian soccer meet as the first team as they earlier crushed Bhutan by 3-1 goals in the first match.
On the other hand, with the second successive defeat in the meet Bangladesh lost their better hope as they were earlier beaten by defending champion Afghanistan 0-4 margin in their first match.
In the day’s must-win match for Bangladesh, Maldives dominated the first half by 1-0 goals.
Captain Ashfaq Ali put his side ahead in the 42nd minutes converting a penalty kick correctly, 1-0.
Bangladesh defender Waly Faisal received a yellow card for a hand ball in the 41st minutes and the Maldives were awarded a penalty kick by referee, Ashfaq Ali converted the spot kick correctly.
Bangladesh defender Topu Barman equalized the margin in the 87th minutes by a lovely long powerful shot, 1-1.
Substitute forward Hassan Naiz doubled the margin for the Maldives in the 90th minutes in a quick counter attack, 2-1.
Another substitute forward Nashid Ahmed extended winning margin in the stopgap time scoring the third goal, 3-1.
In the 86th minutes Bangladesh midfielder Zahid Hossain squandered an opportunity failing to convert a free-kick correctly.
Bangladesh goalkeeper Sahidul Alam saved his side nicely in the 66th minutes fisting the ball off a long range free-kick shot of midfielder Fasir Ali.
In the 33rd minutes goalie Sahidul Alam comfortably saved a long
range effort off a Maldives captain Ali Ashfaq.
Bangladesh midfielder Zahid Hossain spoiled an opportunity in the 26th minutes as his header from close distance went over the crosspiece.
In the 23rd minutes the Maldives forward cum captain Ashfaq Ali tried a long shot from 30 yard which went over the crosspiece.
Bangladesh will play their last match against Bhutan at 4:00pm (Bangladesh time) at the same venue on Monday.
Yellow cards: Waly Faisal (Bangladesh); Ali Ashadh (Maldives).
Maldives squad: Mohamed Imran, Ahmed Shafiu, Ali Amdhan, Samdhooh Mohamed, Abdulla Ahmad, Fasir Ali, Ali Ashadh, Imaaz Ahmed (Ismail Easa), Mohamed Hamza (Ahmed Nashid), Ashfaq Ali (Captain) and Abdulla Asadhulla (Hasan Niaz).
Bangladesh squad: Sahidul Alam, Jamal Bhuyan (Nabib Newaj Jibon), Yeasin Khan, Zahid Hossain, Mamunul Mamum(Captain), Hemanta Vincent
Biswas, Rayhan Hasan , Monaem Khan Raju, Topu Barman, Shakhawat Rony (Jewel Rana) and Waly Faisal (Sohel Rana).