Ali Thameem
Maldives national football team has lost 2-0 against Tajikistan at the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifying game this evening.
This was the third fixture of Group A in round three of the qualifiers. With today’s loss, Maldives is now placed at the bottom of the group table with three losses in three games, all of which were played away from home.
This evening’s game took place at Hisor Central Stadium in Hisor City. Tajikistan scored both the goals in the first half of the game. The first goal was scored by Shahrom Samiev in the eight minute; it resulted from a low cross following a counterattack from their left wing.
Second goal was scored by Shervoni Mabatshoyev in the 30th minute. A long cross from the right wing ended up onto Mabatshoyev’s feet after Maldives goalkeeper Faisal’s punched ball fell down inside the area.
This was the third time Maldives faced Tajikistan. Maldives managed a goalless draw at home back in the AFC Challenge cup of 2011. A friendly game played four years later resulted in a 2-0 defeat.
Tajikistan is now leader of the Group C in this round of the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers. They are tied on points with Philippines, both having won two games and drew another.
Maldives had played the first two games of the group stage against Philippines and Timor-Leste earlier this year. The national team returned home empty-handed on both occasions.
Three more games await for the Maldives, all at home in Male’. The home fixture against Tajikistan will be played next Tuesday. The game against Philippines is scheduled for November 18. The final game of the qualifiers will be played against Timor-Leste four months later on 31st March 2026.
Only the group winner will qualify for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup, the 19th edition of the continent’s biggest international football championship, to be held in Saudi Arabia in early 2027.
