Maldives lost first game

Sep 15, 2014 - 09:36:06 | Shimaaz Ali
Hamzath playing against Thailand today. Maldives lost the game by 2-0. (Photo: Shimaaz Ali)

Incheon, SOUTH KOREA – Maldives under 23 team lost their first match in the 2014 Incheon Asian Games against Thailand under 23 by 2-0.

Maldives team managed to finish the first half with a goalless score in the 41,131 seater Incheon Stadium. Thailand players created three good chances in the first half and one of that hits the woodwork in the 17th minute.

In the 24th minute, Maldives young keeper Jazalan made a wonderful save to stop a shot from Thai team. And four minutes later he was forced to make another good save.

In the second half Maldives coach Drago Mamic introduced Abdul Wahid, Yasfad Habeed and Mujuthaz.

Maldives starting eleven against Thailand today. (Photo: Shimaaz Ali)Maldives starting eleven against Thailand today. (Photo: Shimaaz Ali)

Thailand opened the scoring in the 75th minute from a header inside the box from a corner kick. And their second goal came in the 84th minute.

Maldives coach Drago Mamic said after the match that he was satisfied with the performance of the players.

“I am really satisfied with the performance of the players and they did what I asked them to do in the match and we did our best.”

“I am little bit sorry about the second goal for the mistake. The keeper did his best and made good saves in the match.”

“Most of these players didn’t play much international games during the past and with this they will get experience and I can say that we are not the favourites. During the preparation to this tournament Thailand beat Myanmar by 8-1 and Qatar by 2-0.”

Moosa Yamin in action against Thailand today. (Photo: Shimaaz Ali)Moosa Yamin in action against Thailand today. (Photo: Shimaaz Ali)

Maldives will play their second game against Indonesia on 18th of this month. Indonesia beat East Timor by 7-0 today in their first game of the group.

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Never on Sep 15
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This defeat was expected considering our opponents but a draw would have been nice. Since FAM does not see the importance of adequate preperation and take these oppotunites for what they are - where participation is more important than any real effort to make it a learning experience - our players will remain as struck in time wrap. SAFF championship is up next, our players will again be rushed through some stuff in the name of preperation. If the tounament is in cold climate our players will be taken to distant island which has a sun burning like fire and top it off with a practice match with some small kids in the name of a friendly. This is how the mysteriously 'efficient' FAM works.
Imma on Sep 16
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Not bad considering we only practiced for 10 days. But this just makes us all wonder; what if, for once, FAM had the forethought to actually prepare the team for a tournament? If we had training camps like Thailand and Indonesia did before this tournament, I'm pretty sure that we could give them a fight instead of submitting to a narrow defeat.

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