Asjey
Maziya Sports and Recreation have defended the FAM Youth Championship trophy, defeating New Radiant Sports Club 4-1 in last night’s final match.
Maziya youth team, who have been on a goal scoring rampage throughout the championship, failed to score a goal within 45 minutes for only the second time, ending the first half on a goalless draw.
But they were soon to take the lead after the break, as Eydhan Ahmed Moosa’s header broke New Radiant’s deadlock in the 55th minute.
Maziya widened the lead in the 72nd minute, as captain Ilan Imran fired it in from the right flank.
This was Ilan’s 13th goal in five matches this championship. He would go on to win the golden boot.
Hopes of a comeback emerged for New Radiant as Maziya conceded a penalty with 18 minutes left to play. Ahmed Hamdhaan converted it from the spot to make it 2-1.
The goal that broke New Radiant came in the final minute of regulation time. Left winger Nassah Ibrahim Nasir took on a defender at the corner of the box, before curling it towards the near post.
Nassah had also scored against New Radiant when the two met, and drew 3-3, in the league stage.
Maziya would go on to score in the seventh minute of stoppage time, with Alhaan Faisal Ameen making it 4-1.
Alhaan’s goal was Maziya’s 30th of the championship. They have scored 6.0 goals per game on average, in their title defense.
This was the closest New Radiant came to the youth championship title in fifteen years. Having lost the final at the hands of Victory Sports Club at the inaugural tournament in 2011, New Radiant have not made it this far in the competition until this year.
