India's dominance or Maldives' revenge?
The seven times champions India will play former champions the Maldives in the final of the seven-nation SAFF Suzuki Cup 2018 at Bangabandhu National Stadium in the capital under floodlight on Saturday.
The match will kick off at 7:00pm Bangladesh time, reports UNB.
India defeated the Maldives 2-0 in the group stage game but playing in the final can be a different ball game.
Defending champions India are the only unbeaten team in the ongoing SAFF meet to make their 11th final berths in 12th edition of the tournament.
With an inspiring 3-1 victory over arch-rivals Pakistan in the 2nd semi-final to play the final against the 2008 edition champions the Maldives, who made the final berth shocking Nepal 3-0 in first semi-final on Wednesday.
In a pre-match press conference at the BFF House on Friday, coaches and captains of both the teams expressed their determination to play their best to win the match.
India coach Stefen Constantine and Captain Subashish Bose said their team are studded with young players and will play for a win.
Maldives coach Peter Segert and Captain Akram Abdul Ghanee said they will try their best to play an entertaining match, saying the need of support from local fans.
In the previous four finals in the South Asian Football, the Maldives clinched the crown once in 2008 beating India 1-0 in the final as co-host with Sri Lanka.
The Maldives lost two finals against India in 1997 and 2009 and lost final to hosts Bangladesh in 2003.
However, India enjoyed upper hand in the both the South Asian and International Football against the Maldives.
In the 11 South Asian Football encounters, India won eight, lost two and one match ended in draw against the Maldives.
In total 18 international encounters, India won 13, lost three and the rest two matches ended in draw.
