Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Male: Ibrahim Fazeel scored the winner as the Maldives claimed third place at the AFC Challenge Cup after edging out Afghanistan 8-7 on penalties following a 1-1 draw on Thursday at the National Stadium.
SAFF champions Afghanistan had dominated a goalless 90 minutes and finally opened the scoring in the 113rd minute through Hamid Karimi only for Ali Fasir to dramatically equalise for AFC Challenge Cup hosts the Maldives with two minutes remaining.
But after Maldives goalkeeper Mohamed Imran saved from Faisal Shayesteh having earlier also denied Mustafa Hadid in a tense shootout, Fazeel (pictured) held his nerve to claim victory for the home side in only their second-ever appearance in the AFC Challenge Cup.
With midfielders Mustafa Azadzoy and Ahmad Hatifi and defender Hasan Amin all missing out for Afghanistan as expected, captain Haroon Fakhrudin was also unavailable for the SAFF champions with Mujtaba Faiz making his first appearance of the captain at left-back.
Maldives coach Drago Mamic, meanwhile, made three changes from the heartbreaking semi-final defeat by the Philippines as striker Asadhulla Abdulla, defender Hussain Niyaz and midfielder Akram Abdull Gani were all brought into the side.
And it was Afghanistan's Sandjar Ahmadi, who was one of three players included by coach Mohammad Kargar following the semi-final defeat by Palestine, who had the first chance of the game after 13 minutes as Maldives goalkeeper Imran eventually gathered the strikers' shot from outside the penalty area.
Afghanistan remained the most adventurous side in terms of attacking threats as the half progressed, and despite the Maldives improving towards half-time, the SAFF champions again went close in stoppage time as Amiruddin Anwar headed wide from Shayesteh's free-kick.
Anwar then flashed an effort just past the post inside the opening minute of the second half, and after an out-of-sorts Ali Asfhaq scuffed a a shot wide for the Maldives from Shamweel Qasim's long ball forward, the midfielder again tried his luck from the edge of the area but failed to find the target five minutes later.
And with Afghanistan still enjoying the majority of possession, Anwar continued to provide the main outlet as only Imran's outstretched foot saved the Maldives with 16 minutes remaining before the midfielder guided a header just wide soon after.
But as the game entered the final 10 minutes, the home side finally burst into life as first Asfhaq's low cross was just too strong for Niyaz before the Maldives captain played in Fasir who eventually saw his shot deflected over the crossbar.
Afghanistan goalkeeper Mansur Faqiryar was then forced to deny second half substitute Fasir twice in quick succession either side of also saving from Asfhaq, who then rippled the side netting with just over a minute remaining.
But with seven minutes of the contest remaining following a goalless first period of extra-time, the deadlock was finally broken as Shayesteh's left wing cross to the back post was missed by Maldives goalkeeper Imran and Karimi was on hand to bundle the ball home from close range.
The Maldives almost found an instant response with three minutes remaining but Qasim's effort was clawed to safety by Faqiryar.
But with two minutes remaining, Faqiryar was beaten as Fasir acrobatically converted from close range to send the tie to penalties.
Imran saved Hadid's third spot kick for Afghanistan to briefly hand the Maldives the initiative, but Fasir was unable to take immediate advantage as the striker placed his effort wide.
But after Imran denied Shayesteh in sudden death, Fazeel held his nerve to beat Faqiryar and claim victory for the home side