Male' Maldives: STO Recreation Club and Road Recreation Club (RRC) have secured their places in the Club Maldives Cup 2025 Final, following two dominant performances in the semi-final stage.
For STO, the win marks a long-awaited return to the grand finale, their first final appearance in nine years, having last reached the stage in 2016. RRC, meanwhile, will be playing in the Club Maldives Cup final for the third consecutive year, underlining their consistency and strength in recent editions.
In the first semi-final, RRC dismantled Maldivian Sports & Recreation in a high-scoring 9–3 victory. Despite a spirited effort from Maldivian, RRC’s attacking firepower proved overwhelming. Adam Nasih (Aadhanna) opened the scoring for RRC, but a misjudged play by their own goalkeeper Mohamed Lufsaan resulted in an own goal, allowing Maldivian to equalize. Before halftime, Iranian midfielder Mohsen Montazemi restored RRC's lead with a composed finish.
RRC came out firing in the second half, scoring five unanswered goals. Ali Shamis (Thoppey) bagged a clinical hat-trick, Ahmed Aflaaz added a screamer against his former club, and Aadhanna extended his tally with two more strikes — earning him the Man of the Match award. While Hussain Maishaan and Ahmed Azmeen found the net for Maldivian, the result was never in doubt.
In the second semi-final, STO RC defeated long-time rivals MPL 2–0 in a tightly contested encounter. Super-substitute Ahmed Raahil Rasheed (Raakko) broke the deadlock with a sharp finish into the roof of the net. MPL, desperate to respond, pushed high and committed bodies forward, but STO’s defence stood strong, anchored by a commanding display from goalkeeper Mohamed Zuhal.
In the dying minutes, STO capitalized on MPL’s risky all-out attack. Veteran midfielder Mohamed Imran (Immi) delivered a moment of brilliance, scoring from his own half as MPL’s goalkeeper Ismail Fathih, who had joined the attack, was caught off his line, sealing the win in dramatic fashion.
The final will be a thrilling rematch, RRC defeated STO in the group stage earlier in the tournament. But with silverware now on the line, the stage is set for a fierce and emotional showdown between two of the tournament’s strongest and most respected sides.
The Club Maldives Cup 2025 Grand Final will take place on Saturday night, where only one team will rise to claim the crown.
