B. Eydhafushi won the Zone 3 championship by defeating K. Kaashidhoo 3-1 in a penalty shootout, thanks to defender Mohamed Ajufaan who saved three penalties while serving as goalkeeper.
The match, which ended 0-0 in regular time, started with Eydhafushi's keeper and captain Abdullah Nasih. However, he was injured within two minutes and was replaced by substitute keeper Ahmed Irufaan.
After Irufaan received a red card in the second half, the remainder of the match was completed with Ajufaan in goal. All three players who kept goal for Eydhafushi are originally from Kaashidhoo.
In the penalty shootout, Ajufaan saved the first two penalties and the fourth penalty from Kaashidhoo. Kaashidhoo's only successful penalty came from Ilvan Mohamed. Eydhafushi's penalties were scored by Mohamed Faasir (Faatte), Ali Naseem (Dhilli), and Hussain Shareef (Mudaa).
Eydhafushi, who won last year's Golden Futsal Challenge, did not have their goalkeeper Ibrahim Afzal due to injury during pre-tournament training. Afzal had been their penalty shootout hero last year.
Mohamed Faasir (Faatte) from Eydhafushi won both the Zone's Best Player award and Top Scorer award.
Kudahuvadhoo successfully defended their title by defeating F. Dharabudhoo 5-3 in the Zone 5 final, with late goals completing their comeback.
The match was tied 2-2 at the end of regular time. Even in the second half, while Dharaboondhoo was leading, Kudahuvadhoo managed to win by scoring three goals at the very end of the match.
Kudahuvadhoo's goals came from Mohamed Areesh and Haroon Ibrahim, who scored two each, while Jumail Jameel (Jumbe) also scored one. Dharaboondhoo's goals were scored by Rayan Riyah, Sajid Ahmed Ibrahim, and Muzdan Hassan.
Jumeil from Kudahuvadhoo was named the Zone's Best Player. Haroon from the same team won the Top Scorer award.
Thimarafushi lifted the trophy in Zone 6 after defeating the most recent zone champion L. Gan 4-0 in the final.
Thimarafushi's goals were scored by Ismail Muneez, Adam Nasih (Aadhanna), Ahmed Aflaz, and Ibrahim Aswad (Gabey).
Adam Nasih from Thimarafushi was named the Zone's Best Player, while Hussein Afkhan from L. Isdhoo won the Top Scorer award.
Vilimale won Zone 8, which consists of Male' districts, by defeating Machangolhi 4-1 in the final.
Vilimale team's Ahmed Bassam Mohamed Naeem (Bakku) and Ali Shiyah (Shiya) each scored two goals in this final. Machangolhi's only goal came from Hassan Sufiyan.
Bassam from the Vilimale' team won both the Zone's Best Player award and Top Scorer award.
In the Golden Futsal Challenge, teams are divided into eight zones, with the top two teams from each zone qualifying for the tournament's round of 16. In the zone round, only Zone 1, Zone 2, Zone 4, and Zone 7 finals remain to be played.
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