Maldives displayed an impressive performance against title favourites India to defeat them 2-1 in the Final and lift the SAFF Suzuki Cup 2018 trophy at the Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka on Saturday. Overcoming the same rivals who trounced them 2-0 in the group stages, a goal each from Ibrahim Hussain and Ali Fasir ensured that Maldives took the trophy home after 10 years.

Maldives showed their intent from the very beginning, building opportunities in the opening minutes before India came forth with their first chance of the match in the 10th minute. Ashique Kuruniyan set up Manvir Singh near the post, but the later ended heading it wide. However, it was Maldives who drew first blood in the 19th minute, much against the run of play. Hussain collected Hassan Naiz’s pass, went past his marker and chipped the ball over Vishal Kaith to take the lead.

India picked up pace thereafter with Ashique almost getting one back, but his back header skimmed the top of the net. He tried setting Farukh Choudhary up minutes later, but the latter failed to take advantage. Even Manvir had a glorious chance, but his shot hit the side-netting. India kept on creating opportunities up front, but failed to unleash that perfect finishing touch, thus, entering the breather trailing 1-0.

India began the second half with renewed zeal as Manvir found himself at the end of substitute Germanpreet Singh’s cross, but missed from close range. Their hunt for an equaliser continued as they kept on thronging the opponent’s penalty box from time to time. But, yet again, India conceded against the run of play in the 65th minutes, when Maldives took advantage of a counter-attacking opportunity. Fasir found himself clean through on goal and did well to chip the ball over an onrushing Kaith to double the lead.

With two goals to overcome, head coach Stephen Constantine made two quick changes bringing Sumeet Passi and Hitesh Sharma into the mix. In the 79th minute, captain Subhasish Bose missed a sitter when Hitesh Sharma’s corner found him unmarked in front of goal, but he failed to head it in. However, India did pull one back in added time when Passi tucked in Nikhil Poojary’s cross from the right, but it proved to be too little too late as the final whistle blew to end proceedings.