Defeat marks Rizey’s final match as Eagles captain

Eagles’ captain, Ahmed Rizvan (Rizey), lost his final match for the club this season to Victory, the very club he is transferring to.

Victory secured a 2-0 victory in the Dhiraagu Dhivehi Premier League match played this afternoon.

The Eagles have decided to release Rizey on a loan basis to Victory for the remainder of the season. Rizey, who was expected to sign with New Radiant, instead signed with Victory. Victory paid Eagles a transfer fee of MVR 100,000 for the player.

The transfer agreement between the two clubs stipulates that Rizey’s move to Victory would be effective after today's match. Furthermore, Eagles included a condition that Rizey would not play in any subsequent match between Victory and Eagles this season. Victory agreed to these terms to secure Rizey, who was the recipient of the Best Footballer of the Maldives award at the most recent Sports Awards.

Rizey was included in Eagles' starting eleven for today's match, but he was unable to help his side avoid defeat against Victory.

This contrasts sharply with the first round of the league when these two teams met; Rizey scored two goals to equalize the score at 2-2 after Victory had taken a two-goal lead. In today's match at the National Football Stadium, Rizey bid farewell to Eagles against Victory without contributing any such assistance to his side.

Victory made changes to their foreign player slots during the ongoing transfer period.

They released their first-round goalkeeper, former Syrian national keeper Mahmood Al Yoosuf, and brought in Nepalese goalkeeper Kiran Kumar, who played in today's match.

Brazilian forward Vladmir Everton, who played for the team in the first round, was released due to his low performance standard, which was deemed inferior to that of Victory's local players. Victory then signed Slovakian player Milos Lacny.

Milos Lacny scored a goal in his debut match for Victory today.

In the 34th minute, Ali Shamis (Thoppe) delivered a through pass from outside the Eagles' box, which Lacny volleyed straight into the goal.

Earlier, Victory's Hussain Niyaz Mohamed (Bokuree) had a good opportunity, but his shot was saved by Eagles' goalkeeper Mohamed Ashwan.

In the 75th minute, Shamveel Qasim (Bonda), the former best attacking midfielder in the Maldives, came on as a substitute for Rizey.

Bonda signed with Eagles during this transfer period, making this his first top-division match in five years, having last played for TC in 2015.

In the 85th minute, Bonda thought he had equalized the score and celebrated, but the goal was disallowed as the linesman had already raised the flag for offside when the ball was struck.

Victory's second goal was scored by substitute Shafraaz Ibrahim (Shafley), a seasoned player, just two minutes after he came on.

Abdulla Midhath Fahmy (Bichad) sent a ball towards the area from near the halfway line in Eagles' half, which Shafley collected, entered the box, and slotted into the goal.

With this win, Victory is now level on points with Eagles. Eagles remains in fifth place, while Victory was in sixth place, as they could not overtake Eagles due to goal difference.