(Valencia - favourites of the final match, lost against the underdogs Victory 5-6 on penalties. Both the teams were leveled in the full 90 minutes with one goal apiece. In the shoot-out also the two teams appeared to be equal but Victory became victory when Ismail netted home his penalty. In this match Star midfielder Imma was sidelined in the second half but he played in the first half through injury. Maldivian footballer of the year 1999 Ali-Shiham, also played with injury. The absence of Ali Umar, the star stricker of Valencia was felt so much that it couldn’t continue the super performance of the team. The speedy Ali Umar was out of action due to injuries. The other two strickers of Valencia, Ali Shiham and Thoddoo Nizam couldn’t find their excellent form, as Ali-Umar was not in the field to assist them. Ali-Shiham and Thoddoo Nizam couldn't penetrate the 4-4-2 Victory defense. Valencia played with 1-2-5-2 formation.

Victory's captain Mohamed Ibrahim (Kappi) was sent off in the first half for a foul on Ali-Shiham resulting Valencia to score its only goal from a spot kick by Ali-Shiham himself. Victory's goal came from Friday Gibbon of Nigeria who was completely unmarked. In the first half neither team dominated over other but Valencia had most of the shots. 

Valencia couldn't capitalize the numerical advantage as the game ended in a 1-1 draw. Valencia got some very good chances in the second half but Imran's performance was outstanding. In the dying minutes Thoddoo should have scored the winner but Imran brilliantly saved his shot. In this game Valencia's Bulgarian Nikolai Donav had a fine match. He played consistently and tried some long-range efforts. The win could have titled in favour of Valencia had Imran not grabbed the two spectacular volleys from Silachi Ayya and Ali-Shiham. Valencia played very well and had many shots in the dying minutes. Victory delayed the match as much as possible to its best.

Valencia played after three days followed by their comprehensive 4-0 win over IFC in the F.A Cup Semi final, had tired legs in this match. Victory got more days to prepare for this final as they were eliminated from the F.A Cup. According to Cup Winners' Cup rules there must be an extra time of play if the match levels in 90 minutes, but since the stadium's lights were not functioning referee commenced the shoot-out. 

The absence of Ali-Umar, injured Imma, Ali-Shiham and impressive former captain Bimma, might be the case for the loss. It was widely believed that high riding Valencia would win the final match easily for the outstanding display by them so far this year)

PENALTY SHOOT-OUT

(It was widely believed that Valencia would thrash New Radiant as they were completely outclassed by Valencia in the Cup Winners' Cup. New lost 4-1 in that encounter. In this match New Radiant played a defensive game through out the entire 90 minutes in order to stop Valencia's dreadful attack. Despite of the injuries, Ali-Umar, Ali-Shiham and Imma played in this final since Valencia had no other options. Much fancied Valencia dominated the full 90 minutes. They played their normal attacking game in the first half. Imma blasted the first dangerous shot of the match in the 13th minute but denied by the New goalie. 

Much of the crowd came to a silent as New Radiant scored the first goal of the match. When almost all the players of Valencia were in the New Radiant's half, a New defender cleared the ball. Then Valencia's sweeper Assad tried to blast it but couldn't hit, resulting an unmarked Dominick to score New's only goal. This was a big blunder by Assad. Had it passed that ball to another man the score wouldn't read 1-0 for New Radiant. Valencia scored its only goal from a spot kick by Ali-Umar. When he was dribbling inside the box, the only way to stop him was to bring him down inside the penalty area. Yoottey brought him down and without hesitation the referee's right hand pointed out into the middle of the box. 

In the 30th minute Thoddoo got a very open chance but denied by Timo. In a corner in the 37th minute, three players tried to score (Silachi, Ali-Shiham and Thoddoo) but the ball didn't seem to be crossing the three bars like repelling a NORTH-NORTH as in a bar magnet. Unfortunately Thoddoo's 43rd minute cross hit the crossbar. Valencia had about 75% of the ball possession and a lot of corners in successions made no real impact. 

In the second half New Radiant seemed to be wasting time as the match progressed. As in the first half, Valencia had the ball possession but they didn't get more open chances as before. Ali-Shiham was substituted in this half since he couldn't play at his best due to an injury, which caused him in the last game against IFC. "The only thing that Valencia couldn't do was to beat the New goalie. Except this, full credit to them"; Commentators said. 

Valencia, yet to be defeated in this year in the open play of 90 minutes, continues to nine matches now. In the Cup Winners' Cup Final Valencia lost to Victory in a shoot-out)

(Valencia - hot favourites of the final match, lost for the first time in 90 minutes in 2001 as the Cup Winners' Cup beaten finalists were beaten again to underdogs New Radiant. Valencia with the ball - New Radiant netting home - that's a typical heading for this match. All the drama you could have seen if you had been at Galolhu stadium from 1050GMT to 1250GMT on 22nd June 2001. 

Valencia played with injured Ali-Shiham, Ali-Umar, Thoddoo, Imma, Nikolai Donav, Modey and Bimma. Ali-Umar didn't even play in the second half. Injured Bimma also came as a substitute in the second half.

In the first half New Radiant scored its first goal in the 6th minute from a header that could have easily saved by Silachi, who was at the left goal post. In the 9th minute Thoddoo dribbled through defenders with ease and crossed the ball. The cross beat the goalkeeper but Ali-Umar couldn't get the final touch to an empty net. In the 33rd minute Donav's long-range effort drifted inches away from the crossbar. In this half neither team did play well but Valencia had the ball possession slightly. New got many open chances in this half. Commentators also noticed that Nahid, sweeper of New, hits a big one and no matter where it goes, whenever he gets the ball most of the time it goes out for a throw.

In the second half it was completely a one-way traffic to Valencia. A replica of the first half as in 6th minute on a counter attack New scored its second goal by Dominick, who was left unmarked. Modey was replaced by an injured Bimma and Hamzath replaced Captain Silachi Ayya. As a result of these switches they pushed forward a little bit, got numerous chances and as a result, New goalie was very busy all the time. Valencia controlled the whole midfield line. Almost in the last 45 minutes the ball was on New Radiant's half. In the 66th minute Timo saved a Thoddoo's shot brilliantly for a corner. In the 84th minute Thoddoo's thundering shot denied by Timo and in the 90th minute too, Timo grabbed a Thoddoo's shot. There were even more shots by them on New's goal. Valencia won several corners in successions. There had been several number of bookings for New Radiant as New got six yellow cards and a red. Dominick was sent-off in the 88th minute. Valencia dominated about 80%-90% in the second half as New Radiant played an ultra defensive game in the second half. In this final match Mohamed Nizam (Thoddoo) was outstanding. He was simply irresistible, flying everywhere on the ground. He played for left back, left midfield, center forward, right midfield and so on.              

Score summary

Score summary

1st goal :- Ali-Shiham (Huraa Ayya) -> Assist :- Ahmed Naseem (Ammadey)

2nd goal :- Ali-Umar (Ayya, Penalty) -> Assist :- Ali-Shiham (Huraa Ayya)

3rd goal :- Ali-Umar (Ayya) -> Assist :- Abdulla Waheed (Bimma)

(It was widely believed that Valencia would win the final easily since Victory had to play without five key players due to suspensions. Victory lost four matches in the year 2001 so far, all to Club Valencia. Past encounters were 4-1, 1-1, 3-2, 2-1 and 2-1 but the drama changed as Victory edged Valencia for the first time in the open play of 90 minutes, in 2001. Valencia, clear favourites of the final match, played without their inform sweeper Asen Kostadinov of Bulgaria and midfielder Imma but dominated over Victory through out the game. In the second half Valencia was reduced to eight men as Fanthoshi, Bimma and Ali-Umar were sent off. Ali-Umar and Fanthoshi had dubious red cards. Even with eight men, Valencia played its normal entertaining possession football. Eight men Valencia produced many quality chances that couldn't do from the eleven men side, but luck was not with them. Ali-Shiham missed a golden opportunity in the first half from close range. Zariyand brilliantly saved Thoddoo's powerful strike for a corner. In the second half Silachi and Ali-Shiham came closer as they were alone only the keeper to beat, but denied. Ali-Shiham's header and Ali-Umar's curving two shots drifted inches away from the post. Valencia pulled one back just 2 minutes before the end from Jameel, as he thumped a powerful strike home with the out side of the left foot. Assad missed three golden chances in the dying minutes, a header and two long-range shots. In the first half Nikolai Donav had an injury but continued play until the first 45 minutes. Despite of the injury, he completed the second half too, but played consistently and made precise decisive passes to the attackers. Referee Saleem took some poor decisions in this crucial match. Victory scored its two goals on counter attacks in the first half and after taking the lead, they tried their best to delay the match as possible. They played a defensive game through out the game. In the second half Victory had nine men in the defense to bandage the Valencia's dreadful attack)

Score summary

1st goal :- Ali-Shiham (Huraa Ayya, 4:00) -> Assist :- Assad Abdul Ghany

2nd goal :- Ali-Shiham (Huraa Ayya, 11:00) -> Assist :- Asen Kostadinov Slachev

3rd goal :- Mohamed Nizam (Thoddoo, 79:00) -> Assist :- Ismail Mahfooz (Imma)

Score summary

Goal :- Ali-Ashfaq (Dhagandey, 29:00) -> Assist :- Ali-Shiham (Huraa Ayya)