Football · International
Late Maldives comeback defeats Timor-Leste
Two late goals produced a 2-1 win and Maldives’ first qualifying points.
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Maldives defeated Timor-Leste 2-1 in Male after scoring twice near the end of their final Asian Cup qualifier. The comeback delivered Maldives’ first points of the Group A campaign, while Timor-Leste suffered a fifth defeat in six matches.
Goalkeeper Dylan Niski kept Timor-Leste level through several first-half chances before the visitors became more adventurous after the interval. Alexandro Lemos then finished a passing move to give Timor-Leste the lead midway through the second period.
Mohamed Irufaan equalised late in normal time by converting a rebound after his initial effort was saved. Niski subsequently brought down Ali Ashfaq in the area, and Ali Fasir scored the stoppage-time penalty to complete Maldives’ turnaround and a winning end to their campaign.
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