The first-ever international goal by 23-year-old striker, Mukthar Naseer, helped co-host Maldives achieve their maiden SAFF Championship title as they beat defending champions India 1-0 in a sensational soccer final, played under lights, at the Sugathadasa Stadium on Saturday.

Two-time finalist Maldives, who were well supported by a vociferous crowd, probably the highest foreign-fan influx at this venue, scored their match-winning goal in the 87th minute of the game; that was after missing several early opportunities.

Being beaten at home by the same opponents a few days back, the team from the archipelago, egged on by none other than the country’s President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, found Colombo their second home as they had enough impetus to drown the four-time champions India who once beat them 5-1 in a similar SAAF final, in 1997.

Maldives became only the second team to have beaten an Indian outfit in a final with their 1-0 victory on Saturday. Meanwhile, India will consider Colombo as a doom venue as they have now lost both their finals in Colombo. It was here that they were first beaten in a finale when Sri Lanka recorded the historic title win in 1995.

Maldivians started the match positively invading the Indian territory. Their initial aggressive approach, however, struck a low when their ‘international star’ (Brunei Club player), Ali Ashfaq was shown a yellow card by referee Nafeez Abdul in the 30th minute.

Maldives missed two scoring opportunities in the first half when an Ahmed Thariq header managed only to kiss the sidebar and again when an Ashfaq free kick went flying inches over the crossbar. The first half ended with the score reading 0-0.

With the tensed final nearing its end, it looked as if the match would lead to the extra time. But the stage was, instead, getting ready for great heroics. Naseer finally broke the deadlock to trigger a wild spectator eruption.

The striker from ‘Baa Atoll’ came from nowhere to boot the decisive goal. Striking approximately 20m away from the goalkeeper, Naseer’s stunning goal was welcomed by a hungry net that was starving for a touch of the ball for over 80 minutes.

The SAFF C’ship debutant who was playing his first international tournament for Maldives was highly unlikely to become a hero at the presence of two prominent players (Ashfaq and Ibrahim Fazeel) who had already represented several foreign clubs.

But with Ashfaq playing second fiddle after being given a yellow card, someone had to take the initiative and Naseer did it with utmost perfection. The crowd welcomed the new hero in a wild cheer which lasted till the championship trophy was lifted by them and was later offered to President Gayoom.

It could probably be the highest sporting achievement in the Maldivian history.

Courtesy - The Island