AFC Women's Asian Cup
Fathimath Afzra starred with a hat-trick to seal the Emirati side their first win as they finished on four points, with Maldives returning home with three defeats.
Both teams were chasing their first win and it was UAE who put Maldives under pressure with keeper Aminath Leeza stopping Areej Al Hammadi’s dangerous cross in the third minute before keeping out Rawan Al Hammadi.
Fatima Jassem came close for UAE moments later when her headed attempt just missed the left post, while Toorfah Al Ghafri sent her free-kick over the bar.
Maldives almost got their act together in the 13th minute when Mariyam Noora tried to squeeze her way into the Emirati box, only to be undone by a wayward pass to Aminath Fazla.
UAE, however, broke the deadlock in stunning fashion in the 28th minute after Afzra powered her free-kick from distance which looped over Leeza and into the top right corner.
Afza doubled her tally in first half stoppage time after turning in Rawan Al Hammadi’s corner to give UAE a comfortable cushion heading into the break.
UAE increased their tally two minutes after the restart with Afza completing her hat-trick by nodding home Al Ghafri’s corner.
UAE capitalised from another set-piece after Maldives failed to clear a corner in the 68th minute, leaving Amna Alhammadi to set up Fatima Jassem for an easy finish.
Maitha Alhazmi added UAE’s fifth in the second minute of stoppage time to seal the three points.
Related News
- AFC Women's Asian Cup
Qualifiers - MD5: Results & Reports
- AFC Women's Asian Cup
Qualifiers - Group G: Philippines 1-0 Hong Kong, China
- AFC Women's Asian Cup
Qualifiers - Group B: Timor-Leste 3-1 Mongolia
- AFC Women's Asian Cup
Qualifiers - Group D: Kyrgyz Republic 1-2 Pakistan
- AFC Women's Asian Cup
Qualifiers - MD4: Results & Reports
Item 1 of 5