Maldives welcomed Bhutan in international football with a 6-0 drubbing at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.

Forward Ali Shiham notched the first hattrick of the third SAFF Championship as Maldives mauled the debutants in the Group A opener of the eight-nation meet.

Maldives took the lead in the very second minute from a counter attack with Nizam finding the net from a Shiham pass. Lutfy doubled the margin in the eleventh minute.

Shiham then got into the demolition act scoring twice in successive minutes as Maldives went to take the lemon break with 4-0. The lanky striker first headed home a left side cross from Shah Ismail in the 24th minute and then netted his second in the next minute after being brilliantly fed by playmaker Ali Umar.

There was no respite for Bhutan, playing their maiden international match after getting the FIFA membership in 2000, as Maldives showed no sign of slowing down.

Shiham completed his treble in the 67th minute with a left-foot placing shot from a Shah Ismail pass. Umar drove the last nail in Bhutan's coffin after receiving an accurate through from Nizam in the 80th minute.

Ranked lowest (199) in the tournament, Bhutan were no match for the well-organised Maldives (ranked 152), who dominated the entire proceedings right from the word go.

Maldives take on hosts Bangladesh in their next match and Bhutan face neighbours Nepal in their next outing Monday.

Yellow cards: Umar (Maldives), Sonam Tobgye and Pema Chophel (Bhutan).

TEAMS

Maldives: Imran, Ibrahim, Fazeel, Nizam, Ismail, Umar (Thariqu), Assad, Ahmed Naaz, Jameel, Lutfy (Hussain) and Shiham

Bhutan: Jigme Singhe, Passang, Irishna, Bhim Kumar, Dorji (Chengho), Sonam (Tenzin), Kinlay, Pema, Dinesh, Wangay and Chophel (Jamtsho)

Referee: AD Silva (Sri Lanka)