VB has done it again

As many would have expected VB defended their title for the second time in as many years. In a season purported to be one-sided VB reached finish line well ahead of final two games of the league.

Ashfag came off the bench to provide the much-needed breakthrough for the 1-1 stalemate in the 74th minute. His cleverly-disguised pass, rather than a shot, found the back of net to the confusion of Maziya defenders who failed to clear it.

He put the tie beyond doubt with his second of the day from a right flank free kick before Ali Umar capped off the vital clash with a brilliant individual goal.

The final whistle saw Vanli lifted aloft by the ecstatic players for the memorable success the Turkish helped to bring to the youngest club in the Maldivian football fraternity. For to win a silverware without a single defeat is no mean achievement. Well done VB!

Reds still in the slim hope

New Radiant’s recent endeavor to strengthen the team with the acquisition of two Bulgarians could not be much of a help when Victory came firing all cylinders.  More so with the usually reliable Oppo in the fray like a fox in the box the least you could do is let a loose ball within his sight and you know the result. He made meal out of the opportunity and scored his 16th goal of the season.

New Radiant may have got numerous chances begging for them but what of the use when players of Tom’s reputation fluff penalty cheaply.

In the end it was again Suzain’s day as they claimed an importantly victory to consolidate their position in the second place and condemn the Blues to struggle for the third spot. Can they do it?

For Victory they have to wait for what happen tonight? If VB lose their game against Maziya there is the slim hope for rejoice till the next match day.

Dhivehi League preponed

The latest move by FAM to pre-pone Dhivehi League will be some consolation as far as time is concerned. As time (rather the lack of it) more often than not has been blamed for Maldives’ preparation at overseas tournament.

As of now day and night matches will be played from the 16th of this month till 25th. Bereft of any real excitement over the long-drawn tournament this will in part further stretch interest of limited supporters.

But then it is U23 which takes precedence and all the help that is needed is a prerogative of parent body, FAM. Thus to pre-pone the remaining three matches for each team runs in good stead.

Victory in relentless mood

Victory’s belated endeavor to make amends for earlier profligacy seems little too late. But then this precious three points against wasteful Vyansa is important in the fact that it keep them in the hunt for now.

As it is for Oppo. With his brace he is still in contention for leading goal scorer award except that he is just two goals behind leading goals scorer Ashfag. Though, his best years behind him, he is scoring important goals at important juncture for his team. One would wish Oppo's inspiration should have permeated to all in red at the beginning of the season when they lost valuable points to mediocre teams.

Now it is all a waiting game. Perhaps in the coming week we would get the answer. 

  
    

AYL on freefall

When losing become a routine affair the headache becomes unmanageable for the coach. For AYL coach Athif it is no different, there is nothing to revel about, it is all defeats.

Now these matches for him in Dhiraagu Dhivehi league are formalities rather than any which does anything to their position in the table. With yet another loss to high-flying New Radiant, AYL aim must targeted to the relegation battles looming large on the face.

For New Radiant it was yet another easy romp with a 5-3 with Bulgarian Petkov getting on the score sheet thrice. Mohan team is coming good towards the end of the season but it is unlikely they get better than their present position at 3.

VB brush aside Valencia

If Valencia had any thought of claiming a spot in the fourth place in the league it has now well been dashed for good. Needing a win to make any bold claim and yet having to wait what other teams’ fortune pan out in the reminder of matches, the first nail in the Valencia coffin was hammered in 12th minute with Ali Umar’s penalty. Oittey doubled the lead in the 28th minute.

Valencia had a lifeline in the 34 minute when Bonda’s superb header found the back of the net. Yet depleted by the absence of first team regulars including star player Assad the onslaught from VB was too much to handle. The pressure become telling when half-time substitute for VB are player of Ashfag’s calibre. He sealed the win for VB sports in the 60th and 93rd minute to protect what is turning out to be a huge lead. Well, notwithstanding even if the nearest rivals Victory win their next match. VB is simply too good.

Thoddu flatter to deceive

It looked like it was one of those days when smaller looked the bigger. There was a new-found confidence in Thoddu players and a conviction in their play. Against mighty Maziya they defended in the initial half-hour as if their life depended on it. And in the 14th minute when Muan lifted a ball over the advancing goal-keeper at the edge of box into the empty net you knew there was something about this team Thoddu today.

They defended stoutly and distributed ball up field in a manner reminiscent of a team in harmony. The usual porous defense was magnificently shielded, when they lose possession how they, almost all, get behind the ball is tactics hitherto they never managed so effectively. But then don’t expect miracles from a team which hardly gets two consecutive practices with the playing-11. If only you have 38 minutes in a football match.

Sadly for Thoddu and all those supporters back at home it was yet another proof of how shallow their talent is and how important is regular practice. The gathering confidence that it would be their day of three points against a very resilient Maziya shattered to pieces in the 39th minutes when Thasneem headed home the equalizer.

When referee blew his final whistle the scoreboard read what was always predictable. Maziya 3, Thoddu 1. Yet another predictable result with no twist in the  tale.

Is VB Sports the deserving king

Galolhu Stadium: The good old days are over

Is this the least competitive and most boring Dhivehi League in a long time? Indeed yes, if you go by the league table. 

While VB Sports sit on the pole position with a comfortable tally of 43 points, 8 points ahead of their nearest rivals Victory, the team at the bottom of the table is having a terrible. AYL has not won a single match so far, only 2 points from two draws . Second from bottom Thoddu is with 9 points, third with 15 points.

Now where does that leave the competitiveness of this league? With only four matches to go before the wrap up of league you feel like to ask:  is this the kind of football you wanted to watch and follow as an avid fan? Where is the flair and excitement? In 8-team league should the lowest be as mediocre as not win a single match? Whatever happened to supporters who once filled this stadium to the brim?

At a time when there is real concern over the standard of football, which in the eye of many is on descent, the question is should there be such mismatch among the teams? Should it be allowed a particular team with its financial power to tip the scale of balance and lose the leverage on competitiveness forever?

Dhiraagu as the main sponsor may be doing its part to revive the sport but with the sort of disparity quite visible among teams, for AYL and Thoddu especially in their buying power and lack of genuine footballers coming through, is the scale tipped too far, beyond no return? 

The show is not over for New Radiant

A comprehensive win, a very precious three points and a smile writ large on the face of coach Mohan to sum up New Radiant’s tryst with Valencia for a place in the fourth place.

The blue boys are reinvigorated since Tom’s return to his old team and perhaps it is no wonder he is on the score sheet. His aerial power is such that he will hardly miss a header inside the six yard; his 43rd clincher in fact did justice to his strength in air.

Valencia may have lamented their attempts were hampered by poor refereeing but the fact that you cannot discount is New Radiant's spirited performance today. Their overall defense-minded approach to the game was praiseworthy.

Mohan’s growing stature to the game as a competent coach is no more a myth. He is making a depeleted side looking great by the day. However this doesn’t look like to be their year, so coming on stronger in the next season is something their long-suffering supporters will be longing for.