Ali Thameem
Addu City defeated Alifushi 2-0 tonight to reach the final of the Ninety Plus Gold Cup.
After a goalless first half, it was the 42-year-old captain Shamweel Qasim, famously known as “Bonda,” who broke the deadlock for Addu City in the 52nd minute.
Timing his run perfectly to the near post, Bonda connected with a well-placed corner kick from Ismail Eesa, directing a precise header into the far post.
Bonda played a key role in the build-up to Addu City’s second goal as well. His high cross found Eesa, who skillfully laid the ball off for Ibrahim Waheed. Although Waheed’s attempt didn’t find the net, it created an opportunity for the team’s super substitute, Ibrahim Mahudhee, popularly called “Feydhoo Ibbe.” Mahudhee capitalized on the loose ball, tapping it in from close range in the 70th minute to seal the game.
Alifushi, an island from Raa Atoll with a population of just over 1,500 people, has made its mark on the Gold Cup, topping their group in two of the Gold Cup group stages. They won all but one game in the group stage, defeated Male’ City, and knocked out Fuvahmulah City in the quarterfinals.
The boat islanders sail home as one of the top four teams in the first-ever Ninety Plus Gold Cup.
Addu City makes their way into the final as the only team still unbeaten in the Gold Cup. Like Alifushi, Addu ended both group stage phases as the top team. They have not conceded a single goal in the knockout stages; Addu defeated Maafushi 3-0 in the quarterfinals.
The southernmost Atoll of the country faces “Baa Brazil” Eydhafushi in the final of the Gold Cup this Tuesday night.
