Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kathmandu: AFC Challenge Cup 2014 hosts Maldives registered a record-breaking 10-0 win over 10-man Sri Lanka in the first match of their South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship campaign at the Dashrath Stadium on Monday.
The Maldives’ star forward Ali Ashfaq, who plays his club football with AFC Cup quarter-finalists New Radiant SC, alone netted six goals in the rout which is a championship record for highest goal victory.
Sri Lankan goalkeeper Mohamed Imran was red-carded by Indian referee Pratap Singh in the 19th minute and that incident opened the goal floodgates.
Earlier Assadullah Abdullah opened the Maldives’ account in the 5th minute and Ashfaq converted two first half penalties as the Maldives went 3-0 ahead at the break.
It took another 13-minute, second-half action at the pitch for Ashfaq to add three more goals to his personal tally. Hassan Adhuham, Ali Fasir and Ali Umar also scored a goal apiece before Ashfaq grabbed his sixth of the match in the 87th minute.
With the win, Maldives go top of Group B ahead of Afghanistan who are second on goal difference after beating Bhutan 3-0 at the Halchowk Stadium on the same day.