Ali Thameem
Dhidhdhoo returned from a two-goal deficit against Faresmaathoda in tonight’s game, as the Ninety-Plus Gold Cup concluded the first phase of its group stage.
Haisam Rasheed’s hat trick helped Dhidhdhoo complete the comeback and reclaim the second spot in group A, as they won the game by 4-2.
Ending up second behind Fuvahmulah, Dhidhdhoo is set to compete with Maafushi and Eydhafushi in stage two’s Group F. The capital of Haa Alifu is in good form; being undefeated in three games, and scoring 15 goals in the group stage so far. Only Fuvahmulah has scored more goals than Dhidhdhoo in the Gold Cup.
While their attack is one of the strongest in the Gold Cup, Dhidhdhoo has conceded far more goals than any other team that has qualified for the second phase. Their goals-against (13) is the third-worst of all seventeen teams at the end of the Gold Cup’s group stage one.
In contrast, their new rival Eydhafushi has kept two clean sheets and conceded just one goal in three games. Maafushi has conceded 2 in three Group D games, ending up in third place with four points. But Maafushi has not been as impressive as Dhihdhoo on the attack; scoring just two goals compared to Dhidhdhoo’s 15. Maafushi’s only win came against Alifushi in the last match of Group D.
Group F fixtures are scheduled to kick off this Monday:
- Eydhafushi vs Maafushi – 09th December, 21:00
- Dhihdhoo vs Maafushi – 11th December, 21:00
- Eydhafushi vs Dhihdhoo – 14th December, 15:50
