Maldives enter final with 5-1 win over Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka were knocked out in the semi-finals of the South Asian Football Championships by Maldives by five goals to one in the match played at Bangabandu Stadium yesterday.

The Maldivians will now confront either Bangladesh or India who clash in the other semi-final at the same venue on December 14 in the final.

The Maldivians took an early lead through a goal by Fazal in the first half to take a one-nil lead at half time.

The Lankans equalized in the 61st minute through E.B. Channa who netted in a goal to make it one-all. Two minutes later the Maldivians snatched the lead once again through a goal by Afthak.

The Maldivians went onto dominate the game from there onwards and scored two more goals in the 77th and 88th minutes through Afthak and Fazal and in the dying stages of the game scored their fifth goal through a penalty by Tharik to give them a resounding 5-1 win and a place in the final.

Last year Maldives emerged champions by beating India in the final. The Lankans last won the title in 1993.