SAFF Championship 2018: India vs Maldives, Live Score, Updates, and Commentary

That's all from the live coverage of the group stage action from the SAFF Championship 2018 as India enter the semifinals to set up a mouth-watering clash against Pakistan. Catch all the live action from the SAFF Championship right here at Sportskeeda.

FT:
India 2-0 Maldives

The ref blows the final whistle as India win 2-0 against Maldives to ensure smooth passage to the semifinals. They will take on Pakistan in three days' time for a spot in the final.

90+1' - Sumeet Passi has a chance to extend India's lead but his header is off target.

90' - Fourth official has indicated five minutes of added time. Score stands 2-0 in favour of the Indians.

88' - A dangerous freekick for Maldives on the left flank after Salam Ranjan caught the attacker. The deadball is fired in but Kaith does well to keep the effort away for a corner.

86' - Change for India as Hitesh Sharma replaces Nikhil Poojary.

84' - Nikhil Poojary is down with an injury concern and the physio has signaled for a change.

81' - Long range effort from Manvir Singh after the ball from Rai but it is straight into the hands of the Maldives keeper.

79' - Ali Fasir is put through on goal after a through ball but Bose does superbly to chase him down and puts in the tackle.

73' - Maldives have a good chance with a freekick in a dangerous position but the Indian defence is able to clear the danger easily.

70' - Both the sides have had couple of chances at the goal but failed to convert them.

66' - Change for India in the striking department as Sumeet Passi replaces Farukh Choudhary.

64' - A great ball in by Davinder Singh and almost finds Farukh for the headed goal but the keeper Faizal stretches to push the ball away. So close!!

54' - Chance!! A through ball from Manvir Singh puts Farukh on goal but the keeper is out in a whisker and saves the effort getting hurt in the process.

50' - Couple of chances created by India after good runs along the wings by the wide backs.

45' - The second half resumes now. A change for India as Vignesh D comes on for Lallianzuala Chhangte.

HALF TIME 🇮🇳 2-0 🇲🇻
India has a comfortable two-goal lead. The Maldives need a goal to stay in the competition. Can they get it in the second half? #SAFFSuzukiCup #INDvsMDV pic.twitter.com/Y1KmBvJCzB
— SAFF Suzuki Cup (@SAFFSuzukiCup) September 9, 2018

HT:
India 2-0 Maldives

A quiet half hour was followed by two Indian goals as the Blue Tigers head into the break with an advantage. Stay tuned for all the second half updates right here at Sportskeeda.

45+1' - CLOSE!! Ibrahim Hussain cuts inside the box after a failed clearance by the Indian defence but a weak shot does not trouble the Indian keeper much.

45' - Two minutes of added time indicated by the fourth official.

44' - GOAL!!! And there it is, the pressure has paid off as Manvir Singh beats the offside trap and rounds the keeper after the delicate pass by Anirudh Thapa. 2-0 for India now.

40' - India have taken over proceedings on the pitch as Thapa and Vinit Rai pull the strings from the midfield. We could see more goals added before the end of the half here.

36' - Close!! Manvir makes a good run after the lob into the box but the keeper rushes out to collect the ball.

35' - And the deadlock has been broken!! Nikhil Poojary scores the first goal for India after he made a great run from the flank inside and exchanged the pass with Farukh Choudhary. Great move followed by a clinical finish.

31' - India increase the pressure as a shot from Salam Ranjan after a corner is blocked by the Maldives defence.

30' - Half an hour in the match as the score stands 0-0 in Dhaka with both sides struggling to get clear chances at the goal.

24' - A good long ball from Thapa finds the run of Farukh Choudhary up front who does well to create space for the shot but his effort deflects off the defender and the keeper collects it.

16' - Lallianzuala Chhangte and Nikhil Poojary are being asked to switch sides regularly as Constantine tries to keep the Maldivian coach guessing about his attacking tactics.

14' - Maldives have a great weapon in their arsenal, Hussain Sifau's long throw-ins as Vishal Kaith fumbles a long one from the right side and the ball is out for a corner.

10' - CHANCE!! Thapa picks out Nikhil Poojary at the far post, who had made the run and had an open header to score but the youngster puts it way over the goal as a close chance goes begging.

6' - CLOSE!! A cross by Jerry is not dealt well by the Maldivian defence and a rogue clearance almost hands India the first goal as Mohamed Arif's header hits the crossbar.

5' - A good run by Jerry on the flank and he tries to find a striker in the box but his cross is not an ideal one as the ball goes out for a goal-kick.

1' - Kaith called into action early on as a mispass by the Indian defence finds the striker through on goal but Kaith rushes out and sweeps the ball away for a throw-in.

1' - KICKOFF!! And the Indian team start off the proceedings in their all-orange kit as they play from left to right in the first half.

National anthem time. Get the job done lads. #INDvMDV #BackTheBlue #AsianDream pic.twitter.com/0uFj8xNyhe
— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) September 9, 2018

The teams are out on the pitch as we get ready for the kickoff in Dhaka.

Best of luck boys #INDvMDV #BackTheBlue #AsianDream pic.twitter.com/bvCVyM2W4V
— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) September 9, 2018

Substitutes are here before the kick-off #INDvMDV #BackTheBlue #AsianDream pic.twitter.com/LMB6uiCPJw
— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) September 9, 2018

We are just ten minutes away from the kickoff at the Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Maldives starting XI: Mohamed Faisal (GK), Ali Samooh, Hussain Yoosuf, Mohamed Irufaan, Mohamed Arif, Asadhulla Abdulla, Akram Ghanee, Ibrahim Hussain, Mohamed Mujuthaaz, Ibrahim Waheed, Ahmed Imaaz

Goalies are ready for the mega clash against @MaldivesFA #INDvMDV #BackTheBlue #AsianDream pic.twitter.com/dJm6ziLb30
— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) September 9, 2018

Boys are out to have a look on the pitch before the match #INDvMDV #BackTheBlue #AsianDream pic.twitter.com/MnEfM3aTEB
— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) September 9, 2018

India Starting XI: Vishal Kaith (GK), Davinder Singh, Salam Ranjan Singh, Subashish Bose, Jerry Lalrinzuala, Nikhil Poojary, Anirudh Thapa (c), Vinit Rai, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Farukh Choudhary, Manvir Singh

Starting XI#AsianDream #BackTheBlue #WeAreIndia pic.twitter.com/7oETsc8TiD
— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) September 9, 2018

The starting lineup for the Indian side is out!!

Hello and welcome to the live coverage of India vs Maldives from the SAFF Championships 2018 here at Sportskeeda

Defending SAFF Champions India are all set to take on the Maldives in their second match in the SAFF Championships 2018 underway in Bangladesh.

Stephen Constantine, the Indian coach has taken a fairly young side devoid of any star names - Sunil Chhetri, Jeje Lalpekhlua, Sandesh Jhingan, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu and has shown faith in the young players in the nation. Former Bengaluru FC left-back Subhashish Bose will lead the Indian side in their Group B encounter against the Maldives as the Indian team looks to seal their spot in the semifinals.

In their first group match against Sri Lanka, Ashique Kuruniyan and Lallianzuala Chhangte were on target for India as they won 2-0 in a match that should have seen India score more goals. The coach Constantine was happy with the result but not so much from the team's performance on the field.

A convincing win in today's clash will take the Blue Tigers into the semis with high spirits as they aim to defend their title in Bangladesh.

Catch all the live updates from the SAFF Championship 2018 right here.