Nepalmountainnews Report | 6 Jun 2008
Maldives crushed out Nepal by 4-1 in the league round of ongoing SAFF championship. With the lost Nepal were out from the tournament.
Ismail Mohamed and Ibrahim Fazeel, the two Maldivian put the end in Nepal's venture with both scoring twice. 
Maldives and defending champions India's entry into the semi final were confirmed as Pakistan and Nepal are out with one game remaining.
Nepal was the better team at the start but it was the home side that broke the deadlock in the 10th minute. Ismail found space to send the ball back into the net after a neat play from Ashfaag.
But in the next minute Nepal shocked a nation in red through Vishad's powerful shot from left side of the box, Imran dived but couldn't reach the ball that went straight into the far corner.
Two minutes past half an hour, Ashfaag headed a cross from Mukhthar but the attempt was off the target. In the 39th minute, Ibrahim Fazeel's header inside the six yard box was only on target to the crossbar. Three minutes before half time, a weak shot from Thoriq outside Nepal penalty area was too easy for the keeper.
Maldives took only a minute to restore the lead, as Ashfaag sent the ball to sprinted Ismail on the edge of Nepal penalty area. Ismail beat the defender and sent the ball to far corner to make it 2-1.
In the 49th minute Mukhthar received the ball from Assad but his shot missed the target nearly and went across the goal. A minute later Ibrahim Fazeel in front of the goal received a nice low cross from Ashfaag, who entered the opponent's box beating two markers, Fazeel finished it comfortably.
In the 53rd minute Nepal strikers penetrated the defense of Maldives but in-form Ismail cleared the danger.A minute later Nepal's Jumanu Rai sent a good shot from the left side of Maldives penalty area but Imran handled it well.
Maldives then went forward and pressured Nepal through powerful shots from Ashfaag and Fazeel, but the duo's strikes did not hit the target.
In the 61st minute Ashfaag passed the ball to unmarked Ibrahim Fazeel, the Victory striker pulled the trigger outside Nepal penalty area and the cross bar provided a little help sending the ball into the net. Only half an hour to go, Maldives took a comfortable 4-1 lead. In the 64th minute, Nepal's Niranjan aerial ball was punched away by keeper Imran.
In the 81st minute Jumanu Rai went close to earn their second goal but his shot hit the side net. Now Nepal will play inconsequential match against Pakistan on 7th June.
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