Penalty Shoot-Out

Second half initiated with some disarray for Valencia as Victory scored three goals past Aslam inside the first 7 minutes. An unmarked Sobaah resulted to score Victory's second. Third goal from Isse was a baby finish as Aslam couldn't save that easy slow shot that went past under his stomach. Modey had been accused by the commentator for what had happened early in the second half. With these setbacks even, Valencia played with great determination. In the 54th minute Dhagandey's shot was well denied by Imran. At minute 15, an Assad cross was well punched away by Imran. At the other end Aslam saved a brilliant Dhona shot to deny his solo effort in jubilant in the 62nd minute. At minute 64, Imran saved Dhagandey's shot that went like a bullet. Eight minutes later Anil of Victory was unlucky to see his shot denied by the right post. At minute 77, Thoddoo's shot went just over the bar and earlier at minute 74, Silachi's powerful strike was again denied by Imran. In the 82nd minute from a Thoddoo pass, Ali-Shiham scored a consolation goal from long-range. That was indeed a brilliant goal that he ran from the half way line. In the nail-biting last 10 minutes, Thoddoo's shot was well blocked by Imran and Silachi was not at the correct position to score at the rebound in the 85th minute. The some what droning spectators came to live when Ali-Shiham scored his second of the day in the 91st minute from a brilliant Ali-Umar pass that beat Kappi in a cool style. The match ended 3-4 in favour of Victory, who did not play a consistent game, but due to Aslam's lack of match concentration and some dubious decisions lead them for the triumph)

Penalty Shoot-Out

The much anticipated clash started at 16:00 (GMT: 11:00). Valencia played without their first choice left back Rameez due to suspension and their veteran Bimma was about to leave abroad for medication after he suffered a serious injury. But with all that misery, first real chance was created by Ali-Ashfaq (Dhagandey) in the 6th minute. Valencia, which played with new kits, had enormous problems in the first 40 minutes. IFC's Lachchey was unlucky to see his header denied by the bar in the 8th minute. At minute 20, Oppu nearly broke the dead lock but Habeeb denied his shot tremendously. IFC could have been 1-0 up had Shamweel's powerful shot not denied by the right post in the 35th minute. In that period Valencia looked shaky at the back as usual. IFC gave a torrid time for the Valencia side and looked as if Valencia would not defend the title with the way they performed in the first 35-40 minutes and looked in jeopardy. But the tune was about to veer in the 38th minute when Ali-Shiham made connection with Dhagandey on a swift counter attack. Dhagandey's shot was brilliantly ceased by Maboo of IFC. At minute 39, Thoddoo's corner into the area was headed by Dhagandey; the ball that bounced up after hitting the ground was spectacularly scored by Ali-Umar to make it 1-0. This was Ali-Umar's first ever goal against IFC. He couldn't score at the previous seven (7) attempts. Valencia became Valencia after the first goal and at minute 40, Thoddoo's powerful strike was well saved by Maboo and Ali-Shiham's strike, which he received from Thoddoo after the rebound, too was sensationally saved by Maboo. IFC had ample possession in the first half until Valencia found the much awaited goal in the 39th minute. Valencia could only overpower IFC defence in the last 6 minutes. First half ended with Ali-Umar's only name on the score sheet.

Valencia got off to a flying start in the second half as Dhagandey nearly grasped a goal but he clouted a shot to the upright in the 49th minute. Lachchey's shot in the 55th minute went miles away from the goal. IFC came near to level the contest but Oppu's shot in the 58th minute was dramatically saved by Anwar off the goal line when the keeper Habeeb was completely beaten. Valencia players wreaked havoc and outraged IFC in the second half but were very unlucky not to score through several brilliantly created chances. In the 59th minute Thoddoo's powerful shot from a Huraa Ayya pass was well saved by Maboo. At minute 65, Assad found Thoddoo, whose shot was again denied by the IFC bench keeper Maboo. Three minutes later Maboo made a superb save, this time Ali-Umar was denied - Assad made the pass to him. Seconds later Huraa Ayya came near to make it 2-1, but his shot from an Ali-Umar pass was cleared off the goal line by Ismail Naseem (KD). IFC pulled a goal back in the 69th minute from Shamweel Gaasim from a Sunain pass that rescinded Ali-Umar's opener. TV then showed buoyant Victory players just after the equaliser. At minute 71, Assad made a pass to Thoddoo, whose shot was again denied by Maboo and the crowd was enjoying the sort of Maboo they've seen in the early 90's as he was revoking several vital attempts. Seconds later, at the other end, Maboo's opposite man Habeeb grabbed a lusty volley from E. Channa of Sri Lanka. In the 74th minute Thoddoo won the ball from Lachchey and released to an unmarked Huraa Ayya, who unleashed the hard obstacle in Maboo to put the ball into the back of the net without any gaffe. At minute 85, Dhagandey scored a thunderbolt left footer from an Assad pass to end the high profile game 3-1 in favour of Club Valencia. Second half ended with a total of three goals with Valencia only managed to bulge two goals and Maboo saving a hefty chances that prevented IFC getting beaten by a massive score line.

Valencia emulated last year's footsteps and sealed the coveted Dhivehi League title in style with robust triple "A" on target against the last two tournaments' (FA Cup and Male' League) winners IFC. Assad Abdul Ghany of Valencia was deservedly adjudged Man of the match for supplying numerous passes for the strikers. Victory Sports Club, Island Football Club (IFC) and New Radiant Sports Club had expatriates but Valencia, which had all local players, finished the League without a defeat (in Dhivehi League) in two years and that is indeed, a staggering record.

Dhivehi League is the most vital competition of all. The top teams from each atoll will play in the final round in Male'. From the final round, after splitting into groups, the best two teams will reach the final. (Thinadhoo Sports and Veymandoo Zuvaanunge Gulhun reached this time). Those two finalists will join with the Male' League's top (6) clubs to play in the Dhivehi League. Now, it is a league between the best clubs in the Maldives. The team that clinches the Dhivehi League will eventually be the top club in the Maldives and as a result, they are honoured to take part in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League the following year)

Valencia made a dire start in the second half as Igwe Irona scored his second goal in the 2nd minute of the second half. Valencia keeper Habeeb got a hand to it even, but in the end it went in. In the 48th minute referee denied a penalty kick as Anil got a hand inside the box. Anil was cautioned in the 50th minute for hitting Ali Umar. Valencia conceded a 3rd goal in the 51st minute as Fauzy managed to score when he received a sublime pass from Igwe Irona. Irona was completely unmarked by Fanthoshi Nazim at the time he received the ball on a counter attack. In the 55th minute, Fanthoshi's header from a Thoddoo free kick was denied by the right post unfortunately. Fortunes were still against Valencia as Dhagandey, who was completely unmarked, hit wide in the rebound when the goal was at his mercy. Valencia pushed forward a trifle after they conceded the 3rd goal. In the 62nd minute Yousuf Mansoor of Nigeria should have scored from close range as he received a sublime pass from Ali Umar. Inspirational midfield dynamo Imma came on for Silachi in the 65th minute. Many were wondering why Imma, who was amazing in the match against IFC, didn't make the starting line up for a crucial match like this final. As the match progressed Valencia got more corners that put Victory under tremendous pressure. At minute 69, Ali Umar's header from a Thoddoo cross just cleared the post. At minute 77, Victory's one of Guinea players Kelta Baubacar, who was already booked, was sent off for thumping a ball out of the ground deliberately. In the 79th minute Ali Umar's header was just magnificently saved by Imran when the goal was wide open. Assad played as a midfielder in the closing minutes to add extra impetus. Victory scored its fourth goal from Sagno Raphael of Guinea in the 85th minute. He managed to score even when there were 5 Valencia defenders near him. In the 93rd minute Ali Shiham, who played a defensive game, managed to hit the target, but was once again denied by Imran who was at his peak in the second half. The match ended 4-2 to Victory after having being 2-0 down.

In this final, Ali Umar was mesmerizing through out the match as he showed a scintillating display with maneuvering skills. We have not seen the Dhagandey that we know in this final as he showed a lackluster performance today. Victory won because of their foreign players. They had two Guinea players and one Nigerian player. Victory's three of four goals were scored by the Africans)

Special interview with Valencia captain Mohamed Nizam

Valencia captain Nizam said that his team members did many (big) errors that he did not even think about they would do it (before the match). "After a healthy 2-0 lead over Victory, Valencia lost the final match 2-4, simply, because we were not cautious about their foreign players," said the player with 21 goals this season. He also said that the last goal (Victory's 4th goal) was a big blunder when the tall Guinea striker Sagno Raphael, who was left unmarked, scored when there were four Valencia defenders. The playmaker said, "We shouldn't let such a striker unmarked." Thoddoo said that Victory's three foreign players did the hectic work for them to win the National Cup for a record third consecutive time. "Two players from Guinea (Sagno Raphael and Kelta Boubacar) and Nigerian player (Igwe Irona) have sealed them the triumph," Nizam said. Both him and Victory coach Maattey agreed that the turning point (after a 2-0 lead) was Victory's first goal that scored in the extra time of the first half. "Victory's first goal by Nigerian Igwe Irona in the extra time was the turning point and that was indeed their luck," Nizam said." After that, the scenario continued horrendously, actually we shouldn't let Igwe Irona unmarked. I always used to tell our brittle defence line that you don't have to leave anyone unmarked, especially the foreign players, who could create chaos at any moment. But our team couldn't do it." Igwe Irona, who was loaned to Victory for only two matches from Singapore's League champion club Armed Force, was the playmaker for his side in Singapore. Valencia lost 5-0 to Victory earlier and, in the final when they had an early 2-0 lead, many would have thought that the score was about to veer in the final to other side, especially after a robust initiation by Valencia into the match. But due to the numerous gaffes made by Valencia defenders, Victory won the cup within matter of minutes into the second half. Asked if the players felt too complacent or swaggering after a 2-0 lead; "No, there were no vestiges of that, the players did not take the match lightly after an early 2-0 lead, we made too many preposterous mistakes and simply that was the reason why we lost to Victory in the final match." Valencia captain Thoddoo Nizam, who is a serious contender for the 'Maldivian Footballer of the year 2002', concluded.