Ali Thameem
Maziya Juniors have defeated Maafaru FC 3-2 in this evening’s semifinal game of The Mangrove Island Football Championship, reaching the final on the Green Boys’ debut year.
All five goals of this evening’s game originated from set-pieces. Maafaru FC were the team to take the lead, when center-back, Mohamed Nizam (PK), headed in a 38th-minute corner kick from the edge of the six-yard box.
Maziya fought back to take the lead before half-time. Maafaru were leading up until the sixth minute of added time. A corner kick from Maziya’s Hameesh found Aidh Mohamed Javeez, who headed in from the far post.
First half continued past the allotted six minutes of added time due to an injury break. Just a minute after the game restarted, Maziya took the lead as defender Mohamed Aiham Anwar scored from an assist from Hassan Nazeem (Choatu).
Thirty five minutes of second half went goalless, before Ali Samdhooh headed in a freekick to give Maziya a two-goal lead.
With just four minutes of normal time remaining, Maafaru FC found the limelight as captain Ibrahim Zakariyya tapped in from a free kick, just as the ball rebounded off the far post.
Maafaru FC reached the semifinals as runner-ups from a three-team group, having advantage of goal difference over the capital island of Noonu, Manadhoo SC. Both Maafaru and Manadhoo had fallen to group winners Naifaru Chelsea.
This was the third year in a row that Maafaru FC had been knocked out from the semifinals of The Mangrove Island Football Championship. They were knocked out by Naifaru Chelsea in 2024 and in 2025, losing on penalty shootouts in the first time.
Maziya Juniors had played the semifinals without several of their players who travelled back to Male’ to take part in the National Team practice.
Their opponents in the final will be decided after tonight’s showdown between Naifaru Chelsea and Jibillee SC of Mahibadhoo.
