Tajikistan cruised to a 3–0 win over the Maldives in their AFC Asian Cup qualifier in Malé, completing a dominant double after a 2–0 victory in Dushanbe last week.
Playing their first home match in two years, the Maldives were backed by more than 3,000 supporters at the National Stadium but struggled to find rhythm against the visitors’ early pressure.
Tajikistan took the lead in the fourth minute when Manuchekhr Safarov reacted quickest to a rebound after Maldivian goalkeeper Mohamed Faisal saved Parvizdzhon Umarbayev’s penalty. The spot-kick had been awarded for handball against defender Mohamed Irufan.
The home side created a handful of openings, with Ahmed Aiham, Ibrahim Mahudhy Hussain and Hassan Raif Ahmed all going close, but none could beat Tajik keeper Oleg Baklov.
Shervoni Mabatshoyev doubled Tajikistan’s lead before half-time, finishing calmly from inside the area despite the attention of several defenders. He struck again in the second half, rounding Irfan on a counter-attack to seal the win.
Maldives coach Mohamed Shiyaz introduced Ali Fasir, Ahmed Rizuvan and 16-year-old Ilaan Imran late on, and Fasir twice forced saves from Baklov — once from a free-kick and again with a header — but the visitors remained untroubled overall.
The result moves Tajikistan on to 10 points in their qualifying group, which also includes the Philippines and Timor-Leste. The Maldives remain bottom, still seeking their first point.
They host the Philippines in Malé on 18 November.
