SAFF Cup: Defending champions India go down 1-2 to Maldives in the final

India paid a heavy price for their poor finishing abilities as they were defeated 1-2 by the Maldives in the final of the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) at the Bangabandhu football on Saturday.

Despite having more ball possession and having more shots on the goal, India failed to make any major impact whatsoever as the Maldives made use of the limited chances they had to win the title for the second time.

Earlier they won the competition in 2008.

For the Maldives, Ibrahim Mahudhee Hussain and Ali Fasir scored the two goals in the 19th and 66th minute respectively and although Sumeet Passi pulled one goal back for India in the second minute of the stoppage time but it wasn’t enough.

India had earlier defeated Maldives 2-0 in the group stage. Salam Ranjan Singh failed to time his header properly from a looping ball by Nikhil Poojary in the fifth minute.

But it was the Maldives who walked away with a lead in the 19th minute when Mahudhee’s shot off his right foot went past Indian custodian Vishal Kaith. India found themselves trailing in the tournament for the very first.

In the 30th minute, India’s best chance for levelling the scores came but Farukh Choudhary couldn’t keep his balance intact and mistimed his shot from close range.

Choudhary’s shot in the 34th minute too didn’t yield a result as it sailed over the bar. Manvir’s long-range effort in the 47th minute didn’t make any impact and it was the Maldives stopper who denied the Stephen Constantine’s side.

All the players in the Indian line-up were less than 23 years of age barring one.