Bangaldesh SAFF mission end

Maldives coach Ricki Herbert made an inspired substitution as youngster Hassan Naiz scored with a delightful flick which was his first touch of the game to beat Bangladesh in the second match of the SAFF Suzuki Cup and almost guarantees a semi final place for the archipelago, reports Haveeru Daily. Bangladesh needing to win the match made the early running with quick and slick passing. They had the lion share of the possession as Maldives struggled to get a grip on the game as Bangladesh enjoyed 61 percent of the possession in the first fifteen minutes. Maldives were almost punished as a deep cross from Jamal Bhuyan found the unmarked Hemonta Biswas on the far post who tried to cut back the ball with a header but was denied by the post with goalkeeper Imran Mohamed stranded. The team from the tiny island nation were restricted to only long range efforts for most of the first half as they continued to struggle to get the same passing game going as they did in the first match against Bhutan. Maldives did show an improved defensive display but were still caught out on a few occasions with slack marking. On the 26th minute another cross from the left by the industrious Jamal found Hemonta who beat the offside the trap but an extra touch allowed Imran to close down the shot and make a crucial block. The game continued in the same vein but for the ball to squeeze through to Mohamed Hamza after a scramble just outside the Bangladeshi penalty area. Hamza's curling effort struck the outstretched hand of Waly Faisal forcing the Vietnamese referee to blow the whistle for a penalty. The tournament's leading goalscorer and talismanic captain Ali 'Dhangadey' Ashfaq stepped up and fired into the top corner. Goalkeeper Shahidul Alam got a hand on it but could not prevent Ashfaq adding to his stunner against Bhutan in the first game.