Ali Thameem
Dhivehi Premier League has returned tonight just where it left off almost two years ago – with a battle between archrivals Club Eagles and Maziya Sports and Recreation.
An in-form Naiz Hassan scored four goals and was named man of the match, as the defending champions returned in style. Maziya had dominated the game from the outset, unlocking the Eagles’ goal in the fourth minute of the game. A low cross from Hassan Nazeem had set up Naiz to tap it in from the far post.
In the 21st minute, a clearance by Eagles defender Sidhaam was deflected off the head of a teammate and dipped into their own goal. Maziya widened the gap just three minutes later – Naiz timed his run to thrust in another low cross, one delivered from the left wing by Hamza Mohamed.
Eagles fought back with Ibrahim Mahdhee Hussain (Feydhoo Ibbe) scoring in the 29th minute; the high press by Eagles had helped recover possession in the attacking third
Naiz completed his hat-trick just before half-time, with a header from Hamza’s long cross taken from the right flank. First half ended 3-1.
Hassan Naiz had been in excellent form as of late. Earlier this month, he found the net in both games for Maldives against Sri Lanka in the South Asian Super Cup.
Against Eagles, his performance was again unmatched, adding a fourth goal to his name in the second half. The final score was 5-1.
Tonight marks exactly 22 months since the last Premier League match was played – when Maziya defeated Eagles on December 19, 2023, to secure the title on the final day of the season. Over the past decade, the fixture had become biggest rivalry in club football.
The competition resumes on Friday with two long-awaited returns. Two of the biggest names in Maldivian football, New Radiant Sports Club and Victory Sports Club, will reintroduce themselves to the first division for the first time in half a decade.
New Radiant face TC Sports in the evening game which kicks off at 16:00, while Victory returns to DPL and meets Buru Sports at 21:00 at night.
