Atoll Futsal Championship – Baa Atoll heats up, Eydhafushi defeated by Maalhos

Eydhafushi has suffered a humiliating home defeat at the hands of neighboring Maalhos.

Maalhos surprised the home side, full of futsal stars this evening, as Mohamed Nabeel scored a first-half brace.

Eydhafushi attempts at a comeback were thwarted by the away side. With just over nine minutes left in the second half, Maalhos widened the lead. With Nabeel’s involvement once more, with an assist to Mohamed Ameem Ibrahim to tap it in, Maalhos defeated the home side 3-0.

Today’s game was the second fixture of the Baa tournament. The Atoll’s capital island Eydhafushi have had a troubled start to the tournament, conceding first in the opening game against Goidhoo on Thursday. They were able to make a comeback and finish off with a 4-1 win.

Eydhafushi, Goidhoo and Maalhos are competing in Group A, while Thulhaadhoo, Fehendhoo and Dhonfanu are competing in Group B. Winners and runners-up from both groups will compete in the semifinals.

This was the third time Eydhafushi hosted Maalhos, and the first time beind defeated by the neighbors. The two sides have previously clashed twice at the Eydhafushi pitch while competing in Better in Baa, the Atoll’s trademark futsal tournament.

FAM’s inaugural Atoll Futsal Championship had kicked off with Baa Atoll. Fifteen more atolls have participated. The Atoll Futsal Championship is part of the four-region framework laid out by the new administration under Ahmed Thariq’s presidency.

With the futsal championship pathway being in the same four regions as the FAM Regional Leagues in football, Baa Atoll champions and runners-up are poised to compete alongside those from the neighboring northern atolls from Haa Alifu down to Lhaviyani, in the Regional Futsal League that follows.