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Srinagar: Real Kashmir Football Club (RKFC) secured a decisive victory here on Tuesday, triumphing over Inter Kashi FC 4-0 in their I-League contest at the TRC Ground.  With the victory, RKFC moved to the third spot on the table with 12 points from six matches.
Fuelled by the passionate home crowd, the team showcased skill and determination and emerged winner with a big margin again, having beaten Neroca FC 4-0 in their previous outing.  It was the local boy Mohammad Inam who scored the first goal in the 30th minute.
Inam was also declared the man of the match.  The fans passionately cheered for their home team as RKFC maintained relentless pressure on the visiting team.  After leading the first half 1-0, RKFC players asserted dominance in the second half as well, adding three more goals.  In the 66th minute, Carlos Lomba extended the RKFC’s lead and then Gnohere Krizo secured a third goal in the 83rd minute.  RKFC sealed an impressive win with Mohamad Maksoud’s late strike five minutes into added time.  Real Kashmir FC will next play Aizawl FC on December 2 at the same venue.&nbsp;
—PTI

Real Kashmir Football Club (RKFC) secured a decisive victory here on Tuesday, triumphing over Inter Kashi FC 4-0 in their I-League contest at the TRC Ground.

RKFC dominates with 4-0 victory against Inter Kashi FC in I-League

New Delhi [India]: Cristiano Ronaldo's iconic goal celebration 'Siu' was recreated in the National Football League (NFL) by the Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers. The highly rated 23-year-old isn't the first player to recreate Ronaldo's famous goal celebration and he won't be the last as the Portuguese who is ageing like a fine wine continue to dominate the scoring charts in the Saudi Pro League.
But after completing the touchdown against Flowers took the celebration to another level during a clash against the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday. After completing the touchdown he lined up the players before taking a penalty, placed the ball and slotted it past the player. After scoring he hit Ronaldo's 'Siu' celebration which was met with a loud cheer from the fans.
<a href="https://x.com/NFL/status/1728992649208807689?s=20" target="_self">https://x.com/NFL/status/1728992649208807689?s=20</a>&nbsp;
This wasn't the first time a popular celebration from the world of football was recreated in the NFL. Manchester City forward Erling Haaland's meditation pose was recreated by Allen Lazard during his visit to London with the Green Bay Packers in 2022. While, in the world of football, Ronaldo's goal-scoring celebration has become a regular theme in the Saudi Pro League (SPL). The Portuguese forward has been enjoying a rich vein in form for the SPL club Al Nassr.  The 38-year-old forward has 29 goals in as many appearances in the SPL while also providing nine assists as well. During Al Nassr's victory over Al Akhdoud, The five-time Ballon d'Or champion struck a brace and scripted another benchmark by scoring the most first-division goals in football history, he has 527 career league goals now. Meanwhile, the 38-year-old also scored 61 goals in 2023. CR7's brace against Al Akhdoud came in the 77th and 80th minute and helped his side clinch three points in the Saudi Pro League.
—ANI

Cristiano Ronaldo's iconic goal celebration 'Siu' was recreated in the National Football League (NFL) by the Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers.

Zay Flowers recreates Cristiano Ronaldo's 'Siu' in NFL with special touch

Riyadh [Saudi Arabia]: Following Cristiano Ronaldo's brace against Al Akhdoud at Al-Awwal Park in Riyadh on Friday, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner scripted another benchmark. The Portuguese superstar now has scored the most first-division goals in football history, he has 527 career league goals now. Meanwhile, the 38-year-old also scored 61 goals in 2023.
CR7's brace against Al Akhdoud came in the 77th and 80th minute and helped his side clinch three points in the Saudi Pro League. Al Nassr's Sami Al-Najei made the first breakthrough of the game in the 13th minute. Najei's left-footed shot from the centre of the box gave an early lead to the home side.  The next goal of the game came in the second half when the 38-year-old placed a fiery right-footed shot from the right side of the box which beat the opponent's goalkeeper and landed in the bottom corner of the box.
Ronaldo's second goal was a pure masterclass when the legendary footballer kept a right-footed shot outside the 40-yard box and hammered the last nail of the game to clinch a 3-0 win against Al Akhdoud on Friday. Ronaldo is considered one of the best footballers in the world, and he has set a few records which are hard to be broken.  The five-time Ballon d'Or winner Ronaldo recently joined the Saudi club Al Nassr in January 2023, following that he has played 42 matches for his new team and scored 36 goals. In the ongoing season of the Saudi Pro League, the Portuguese has appeared in 13 matches for the Riyadh-based club and scored 15 goals. Ronaldo also made seven assists in the 2023-24 season for Al Nassr. Earlier, the Portuguese superstar returned to his boyhood club Manchester United in 2021 after leaving Juventus, however, his stint in the English club did not last very long after he lambasted the United coach Erik Ten Hag in a controversial interview with Piers Morgan. After Ronaldo claimed that Ten Hag did not respect the Portuguese player, United terminated the 38-year-old's contract. In his second run at United, CR7 played 54 matches and scored 27 goals.
—ANI

Following Cristiano Ronaldo's brace against Al Akhdoud at Al-Awwal Park in Riyadh on Friday, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner scripted another benchmark.

Cristiano Ronaldo scripts history following his brace against Al Akhdoud

New Delhi: Al Hilal, the Saudi Arabian club, has reportedly made a staggering offer of 259 million pounds for Paris Saint-Germain's forward Kylian Mbappe, setting a potential world-record bid.  The 24-year-old French captain, who still has one year remaining on his contract, is unwilling to renew his contract with the PSG. The French champions left him out of their squad for the pre-season tour of Japan and South Korea.  PSG is eager to prevent losing Mbappe on a free transfer and, as a result, they have decided to put him up for sale. Their aim is to recoup the approximate £150 million they invested to secure his permanent transfer from Monaco back in 2018.  The current world transfer record is the €222m (£200m) PSG paid to sign Brazilian star Neymar from Barcelona in August 2017.  Real Madrid's Portuguese legend Cristiano Ronaldo is the top star in the Saudi Arabia football league and plays for Al Nassr.
—IANS

Al Hilal, the Saudi Arabian club, has reportedly made a staggering offer of 259 million pounds for Paris Saint-Germain's forward Kylian Mbappe

Al Hilal make world record £259m bid for PSG star Kylian Mbappe: Reports

Kuwait City [Kuwait]: Indian football team centre-back Sandesh Jhingan, praised the entire team for their efforts as the Blue Tigers secured a narrow victory against Kuwait in the opening game of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers at the Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium in Kuwait City on Thursday. The Blue Tigers secured a hard-fought victory over Kuwait away from home, breaking the deadlock with a solid finish from Manvir Singh in the 75th minute, connecting perfectly with a Lallianzuala Chhangte cross.  Despite drawing in their previous two encounters during the SAFF Championships earlier in the year, India faced a tough challenge on foreign soil and managed to not only secure three points but also maintain a clean sheet, with Jhingan playing a crucial role in leading the defence.
Reflecting on the result, Jhingan expressed happiness for the win but cautioned against excessive celebration, urging his team to stay focused as they brace themselves for an even more formidable challenge against reigning AFC Asian Cup champions, Qatar, on Tuesday. "It was very important to start on a winning note. I'm really proud of the team and of how we stepped up to the occasion. Kuwait are always a difficult side, and more so when you're playing away. We put on a strong and mature performance, but we cannot celebrate too much, get carried away, or think too big of ourselves," Jhingan said in an interview with the-aiff.com.  "We have another game in a few days, so it's all about recovery. We just have to keep going. It's just the first game. Let's keep getting better, dreaming big, and make the work bigger than your dream," he added. India had faced challenges away from home earlier in the year, failing to secure a win at the King's Cup and Merdeka Cup tournaments. Despite doubts surrounding their performance in Kuwait, Igor Stimac's side showcased resilience and strength. Jhingan highlighted the significance of playing in those games and how it helped them in Kuwait. "The weight of the tournament makes a difference. We gave a good account of ourselves in Thailand (King's Cup). The Malaysia game (Merdeka Tournament) was, we can say, one-off day after a long time. Of course, we were disappointed to lose there, but those games are to learn lessons. The whole point of friendlies is to learn from them to prepare for big games like these," Jhingan explained.
—ANI

Indian football team centre-back Sandesh Jhingan, praised the entire team for their efforts as the Blue Tigers secured a narrow victory against Kuwait

"Really proud of team and how we stepped up": Sandesh Jhingan on win in opening game of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers

Bhubaneswar: Indian men's senior football team were off to the perfect start possible in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers with a victory in Kuwait. Back at home, times will get more testing as India welcomes Asian champions Qatar on Tuesday here at the Kalinga Stadium.  On paper, Carlos Queiroz's Qatar are ranked 61 in the world. India are 102. However, history tells us that the contests between the Maroons and the Blue Tigers have been tight and cagey affairs.  The goalless draw in the World Cup Qualifiers in Doha back in 2019 was one of Indian football's most famous results in recent times. It was only a few months before that Qatar had put three past Japan to lift the Asian Cup trophy.  But on that evening at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium, despite trying every trick in the book, they could not breach the Indian wall called Gurpreet Singh Sandhu.  "It was an unforgettable night for all of us," said Sandhu, who donned the captain's armband in the match in the absence of Sunil Chhetri, as quoted by AIFF website.  "I remember going into that game knowing that there was no pressure on us. It wasn’t just one man but all of us together with one thought - to make it difficult for the opponent, play the long game, stay alive for as long as we can and who knows we can get something out of it," he shared.  Sandhu made as many as 11 saves in the game, however, the humble tall man credits everything to his team. The second fixture in the same qualifiers against Qatar was also a solid defensive performance from the Blue Tigers, with Sandhu making nine saves, although it ended in a 0-1 loss for ten-man India.  Against Kuwait, the 31-year-old earned a record 25th clean sheet for India. But for him, football is about more than just numbers.  "I always felt after that game that I have played tougher games than that (0-0 vs Qatar) but the results didn’t end up in clean sheets. I would say it is definitely in the top five games in my memory," said Sandhu.  "It means a lot to achieve such numbers (25 clean sheets), and they will mean even more if we keep getting success as a team and move forward. It's easy to give a goalkeeper more credit for a clean sheet but trust me the 10 players in front earn it first by putting in the work," he added.  Looking ahead to Tuesday's clash against Qatar, Sandhu believes that albeit the point in Doha was a historic one, there's no point harking back to it for encouragement. It's time to write a new chapter, this time on home soil.  "We are a different team now. More evolved, less scared, more aggressive and hungrier. We don’t need to look that far for inspiration. Now, we have players who have played more football together over the years and are peaking. We have definitely moved upwards from 2019 as a team. Our recent performances are a testament for us to keep pushing and believing," said the goalkeeper.  —IANS

Indian men's senior football team were off to the perfect start possible in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers with a victory in Kuwait.

Gurpreet Singh Sandhu: The canopy in the 2019 Qatar desert storm during World Cup Qualifiers

Bhubaneswar: Unbeaten at home this year, the Indian senior men's national team takes on Asian champions Qatar in their biggest test in their second match of the Preliminary Joint Qualification Round 2 for FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup 2027 here on Tuesday.  Igor Stimac's men were off to a flying start four days ago with three points against Kuwait in Group A, India will now count on home support in a very familiar location to tackle the test from the 61-ranked Qatari side at the Kalinga Stadium here.  Bhubaneswar's Kalinga Stadium has been quite lucky for the Blue Tigers. The Intercontinental Cup triumph in June, which was India's first international tournament in the Odisha capital, has ignited a footballing fire in an already sports-crazy city. The enthusiasm is reflected in the fact that the match is already sold out.  "It's a game, where there is nothing to lose for us but a lot to win for. So let's go for it all out," said Stimac at the pre-match press conference.  "We cannot control the external factors. We can only control our performances at the individual level and as a team. The only thing for us to do is to give our best for 90 minutes when the first whistle sounds," he was quoted as saying by aiff.com.  Accompanying the Croatian in the press conference was goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, who delivered one of the performances of his life, making 11 saves as India had held Qatar goalless in their own den in the World Cup Qualifiers in 2019.  "Hopefully I have less work (this time)," Sandhu chuckled. "Maximum points with the least work possible is a goalkeeper's dream. I want the players in front of me to enjoy, get on the scoresheet and give us the win."  Qatar's strength does not need much explanation. After hosting the blockbuster World Cup 12 months ago, the Maroons have had a good year so far under a highly experienced head coach like Carlos Queiroz, who has managed the likes of Iran, Portugal, South Africa, Colombia, Egypt and Real Madrid at the club level.  While their recent form was a bit concerning, with two draws and two losses (including 0-4 to Iran) in four friendlies since September, Qatar flexed their muscles in the 8-1 drubbing of Afghanistan to start the Asian Qualifiers with a bang in Al-Rayyan. Four of those goals came from the boots of their record top-scorer Almoez Ali, who was the MVP at the 2019 Asian Cup.  While this is the senior Qatar team's first visit to India, coach Queiroz is here for the second time. He was the Iran coach when they won 3-0 in Bengaluru in the World Cup Qualifiers in 2015.  Stimac spoke about the importance of being consistent when competing at a tournament as big as the World Cup Qualifiers, which was something India lacked last time out. Following that draw with Qatar, India were held 1-1 by both Bangladesh and Afghanistan, which ultimately hampered the Blue Tiger's bid to progress to Round 3.  However, Stimac reiterated that this year has been the most consistent one for India under his tenure.  "When you play high-level games consecutively without losing, facing Kyrgyzstan, Kuwait three times, Lebanon twice, Iraq and you don't lose matches and keep clean sheets, it's quite evident that you are consistent," he said.  "I said to our players immediately after the Kuwait game in the dressing room that the best thing is to forget this game immediately. Save your energy from celebrating, being over-confident and getting into euphoria. No, forget it. Let's get preparing for the Qatar game. That's the only way forward," added Stimac.
—IANS

Unbeaten at home this year, the Indian senior men's national team takes on Asian champions Qatar in their biggest test in their second match

2026 World Cup qualifiers: Upbeat India face a stern test against mighty Qatar at home

London [UK]: England skipper Harry Kane achieved a rare milestone as the Three Lions toiled hard to an uninspired 2-0 victory over Malta at Wembley Stadium in the UEFA Euro Qualifiers. Kane's rich goal-scoring form for the club and country continued as he drilled the ball into the back of the net with a close-range finish in the 75th minute of the game.
This goal marked his 15th goal in eight consecutive matches for club and country which he had previously never achieved throughout his career that has been filled with goals. However, Kane's six-yard finish to make the scoreline 2-0 didn't portray the true story. The Three Lions playing in front of their home crowd struggled to produce a free-flowing style of play despite enjoying 75 per cent possession throughout the game.
England qualified for the 2024 Euros which is set to take place in Germany, the home side lacked the intent which led to a lacklustre display in the attacking front. An own goal from Malta in the 8th minute broke the deadlock putting the hosts in a comfortable situation. A goal fest was expected to unfold but Gareth Southgate's side struggled to create clear-cut chances against the 171st-ranked nation in the world.  English right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold registered the first shot in the 39th minute of the game and then went on to produce the first shot on target at the 64th-minute mark. England starved for chances until Kyle Walker and Bukayo Saka linked up and exchanged a few passes with Kane finishing off the move. Southgate's side will square off against North Macedonia on Monday aiming to sign off the campaign on a high note.
—ANI

England skipper Harry Kane achieved a rare milestone as the Three Lions toiled hard to an uninspired 2-0 victory over Malta at Wembley Stadium

Harry Kane achieves milestone during England's victory over Malta in Euro Qualifiers

New Delhi [India]: The long-awaited aspiration of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) to set up a world-class academy will finally become a reality in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, on November 21, 2023. The AIFF-FIFA academy, to be launched under the FIFA Talent Development Scheme, will be inaugurated by Arsene Wenger, the Chief of Global Football Development, FIFA and former manager of the English football club, Arsenal, as per an AIFF press release.
The FIFA TDS is a programme aimed at collaborating with different member associations across the world to increase the competitiveness of their national teams. The FIFA has also rolled out its Talent Coaching Programme, with which it intends to provide active on-ground support to the member associations. Commenting on the development, AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey said, "Arsene Wenger will be here in India from November 19 to 23. During this period, he and his team will meet ISL, I-League clubs and all those who are involved with youth development in Indian football."
"In the past, we have seen several academies coming up in India. Taking a cue from it, our efforts would be to build this academy into a flawless one. We are confident that Wenger's vast experience and keen understanding of things would be of huge help in turning this academy into a world-class facility. I personally remain grateful to the FIFA President, Gianni Infantino for taking the initiative and for sending Wenger to India." AIFF Acting Secretary General Satyanarayan M said, "This is a giant step towards our long-term vision and investing in youth as young as below 14 is perhaps the greatest start. We will start working on similar endeavours in other parts of the country to ensure talent does not get overlooked. It is certainly exciting times for Indian Football."  R Vineel Krishna, IAS, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Sports and Youth Service Department, Government of Odisha, said, "We are very excited that Bhubaneswar has been selected for the FIFA Talent Academy. The Chief Minister of Odisha, Naveen Patnaik, has directed us to provide all support for the development of football in India. We are working in close partnership with AIFF to create the best facilities for our football players." FIFA has recommended Sergi Amezcua Fontrodona as the FIFA-trained coach, who will relocate to India to implement the project and act as the head coach at the FIFA-AIFF academy. Amezcua has been a FIFA TDS Coach since August 2023 and has previously had the experience of developing football in China, as the Project Director at the Barca Academy Pro Haikou.
—ANI

The long-awaited aspiration of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) to set up a world-class academy will finally become a reality in Bhubaneswar, Odisha

AIFF-FIFA academy to be launched on November 21 in Bhubaneswar

Kuwait City [Kuwait]: The Indian senior men's football side started off its FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers second round campaign with a 1-0 win over Kuwait in Kuwait City on Thursday. Indian winger Manvir Singh (75)' scored the lone goal of the match and got his name on scoresheet. Faizal Zaid Al-Harbi of Kuwait was sent off in the stoppage time during the second half, as per Olympics.com.
The 102nd ranked side India was restricted to its own half early on as Kuwait dominated the ball possession, but Indian midfielders improved as game went on, making some chances for the strikers. Sahal Abdul Samad had the first chance of scoring for India but before he could shoot, he was closed down inside the box. Seconds later, a cross by Nikhil Poojary went to Sunil Chhetri, but the shot flew over the crossbar. Mahesh Naorem made another shooting opportunity in 27th minute with a freekick but Akash Mishra failed to take the ball to the target. Hosts also failed to convert a long range effort during the final moments of first half.
The Indian defence was pretty solid in the first half, well led by Sandesh Jhingan and they did not allow Kuwait strikers to make inroads into the goal. Kuwait played the second half with greater endeavour but despite consistency in effort, they lacked in precision.  Suresh Singh's promising attempt at goal flew off the target in 71st minute but four minutes later, Manvir ended the deadlock, receiving a cross by Lallianzuala Chhangte and smashing a half volley into the nets. Kuwait upped the attack in final moments of the match but the goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sidhu and defenders kept the goal guarded well. This is India's second win over Kuwait, after beating them by 5-4 via penalties following 1-1 draw at SAFF Championship final in July. India's next clash is against World number 61 Qatar on November 21 in their second group A match. Group A also features Afghanistan. These four teams will play each other in home-aeay round-robin format. The top two finishers in the group will make it the FIFA World Cup 2026 AFC qualifiers third round while also earning a direct spot into the 2027 AFC Asian Cup.
—ANI

The Indian senior men's football side started off its FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers second round campaign with a 1-0 win over Kuwait

India beats Kuwait 1-0 in FIFA World Cup Qualifiers round two

Madrid: Alvaro Morata netted twice as Atletico Madrid capitalized on defensive lapses to defeat Real Madrid 3-1 in the Madrid derby.  All three of Atletico's goals originated from crosses on their left side, exposing Madrid's central defenders who failed to effectively mark inside their penalty box, reports Xinhua.  This loss sees Real Madrid drop to third in La Liga. FC Barcelona now sits at the top, while Girona climbs to second place.
Atletico opened the scoring early, with Alvaro Morata converting a deft header from Samuel Lino's cross in the fourth minute. Antoine Griezmann then extended the lead in the 16th minute, powering a header home from a Saul delivery.  Saul had a chance to make it three shortly after, but Kepa Arrizabalaga made a swift save from Nahuel Molina's pass.  However, one can never count Real Madrid out. Toni Kroos fired a potent low shot from outside the box in the 36th minute, pulling one back for the visitors.  Real Madrid seemed to have the momentum as the first half concluded, but their resurgence was halted by another defensive lapse just after halftime. Atletico exploited the left flank once more, with Saul providing the cross for Morata to head in his second.  Following their third goal, Atletico adopted a more defensive stance, forcing Real Madrid to attempt shots from distance. The match concluded with Jude Bellingham fortunate to escape a red card after a rough tackle on Angel Correa.
—IANS

Alvaro Morata netted twice as Atletico Madrid capitalized on defensive lapses to defeat Real Madrid 3-1 in the Madrid derby.

Morata at double as Atletico Madrid beat Real in Madrid derby

Kolkata (West Bengal): Mohun Bagan Super Giant delighted the home crowd at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata with an enthralling 3-1 victory over Indian Super League (ISL) debutants Punjab FC to round off an entertaining doubleheader. The Mariners’ Australian attacking duo of Jason Cummings and Dimitri Petratos scored a goal a piece in the first half before Punjab’s Slovenian forward Luka Majcen pulled one back in the 53rd minute on Saturday.
However, just as it appeared that Staikos Vergetis’ men would storm back into the proceedings, Manvir Singh tapped one in from a few yards out thanks to some brilliant link-up by their frontline to squander any hopes of a comeback for the away team, as per an Indian Super League (ISL).   Juan Ferrando’s men, fresh from their title-winning Durand Cup run, looked like a well-coordinated unit right from kick-off. Asish Rai raced ahead on the right flank and cut back in a pass to Sahal Abdul Samad inside the box. The attacking midfielder couldn’t get enough power behind the shot but Cummings was at the right spot at the right time to net his debut goal in the ISL.  Cummings donned an all-round role in the forward line. He dropped back and played a terrific and incisive pass through the Punjab backline to land at Liston Colaco’s feet in the 35th minute. The winger couldn’t finish the move but Petratos lapped up the rebound to bag the team’s second goal of the night.  Punjab didn’t give up and came out with renewed spirit and enthusiasm in the second essay of the game. They pressed high up on the field and bore the fruits of the same by forcing the Mohun Bagan midfield into committing a defensive error. Glan Martins was compelled into making a back pass but he mistakenly ended up playing a through ball to Majcen. The 34-year-old, who was the highest goal-scorer in the I-League last year with 16 strikes, calmly slotted the ball behind Vishal Kaith to reduce Punjab’s deficit.  However, Ferrando’s side got their act together as Petratos shifted wide on the left flank to collect a through ball and square up a pass for Manvir. He capitalised upon the chance by getting at the end of the delivery to notch his team’s third goal and thereby secure their three points from the game.
*Key performer of the Match: Jason Cummings  The Australian striker delivered a comprehensive performance leading the frontline as he secured a goal and an assist each to seamlessly settle into the rigours of the ISL. He showed no rustiness and donned both the role of a goal-scorer as well as that of a playmaker in an outing that excited the supporters to no end.  *What’s next for both teams?  The Mohun Bagan Super Giant will next host Bengaluru FC on September 27 whereas Punjab FC will travel to Goa to take on the Gaurs at the Fatorda Stadium on October 2.  Brief Scores  Mohun Bagan Super Giant (Jason Cummings 10’, Dimitri Petratos 35’, Manvir Singh 64’) – 1 Punjab FC (Luka Majcen 53’).
—ANI

Mohun Bagan Super Giant delighted the home crowd at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata with an enthralling 3-1 victory over Indian Super League

ISL: Mohun Bagan Super Giant beats debutants Punjab FC 3-1

Bhubaneswar: Chennaiyin FC suffered a 0-2 loss against Odisha FC in their opening match of the Indian Super League 2023-24 at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on Saturday.
Jerry Mawihmingthanga scored the opening goal of the match in the 44th minute while Diego Mauricio (62nd) added the second goal for Odisha FC.
Chennaiyin FC created several goal-scoring opportunities but missed the finishing touch. One of such chances came in the 21st minute when Rafael Crivellaro’s strike was blocked by the opponent goalkeeper from the close distance. The visitors had almost opened their account in the 43rd minute but Connor Shields couldn’t manage to convert a brilliant cross from Aakash Sangwan. Later, Farukh Choudhary’s header went over the bar six minutes before the end.
Earlier, both sides continued their hunt for the opener relentlessly after a short interval due to rain. Chennaiyin goalkeeper Samik Mitra denied Odisha the lead in the 23rd minute with a brilliant save to keep out Isak Vanlalruatfela’s left-footed shot from the centre of the box.
However, Mawihmingthanga put the hosts in the lead just before the half-time whistle when he guided Amey Ranawade pass to the bottom left corner with a left-footed strike.
Odisha doubled their lead in the 62nd minute with Mauricio getting his name on the scoresheet.
Chennaiyin will next face NorthEast United FC in their second game of the season in Guwahati on September 29 while Odisha is scheduled to play a home game against Mumbai City FC on September 28.
—IANS

Chennaiyin FC suffered a 0-2 loss against Odisha FC in their opening match of the Indian Super League 2023-24 at the Kalinga Stadium

ISL 2023-24: Chennaiyin FC suffers 0-2 loss against Odisha FC

Buriram: India succumbed to their second defeat in as many matches in Group A of the AFC U17 Women's Asian Cup Qualifiers Round 2, losing 0-3 to host Thailand, here on Thursday.
The U-17 women had earlier suffered a similar fate at the hands of defending champions Korea Republic (0-8).
The hosts were on the front foot from the very start and took the lead just beyond the quarter hour mark through a penalty by captain Rinyaphat Moondong, after Madison Jade Casteen hit the woodwork.
It took Thailand just a couple of minutes more to double their lead, when they were awarded a free-kick from around 25 yards out. Julaiporn Jaimulwong smashed it with her laces and sent it into the top corner.
Casteen soon turned scorer herself, when Thailand were awarded yet another penalty in the 23rd minute, as she sent it to the right of Indian custodian Khushi Kumari.
India tightened their back line after that, and looked to hit the hosts on the counter, Pooja often acting as the focal point of their attacks. However, the Thailand defenders pushed forward to maintain a high line and catch Pooja offside on occasions.
Thailand came out with much of the same fervour in the second half, but the Young Tigresses managed to keep them at bay, taking extra care not to give away set-piece opportunities from close range.
It took around 20 minutes, and long ranger for Thailand to get their first goal of the second half and fourth overall, as Casteen pulled the trigger from around 20 yards out and placed the ball in the bottom corner, to score her second of the night.
Minutes later, Sulanjana Raul thought she was through on goal, when she ran on to a through ball from the left and had just the keeper to beat, with acres of real estate in front of her, but much to her disappointment, she was the assistant refereeâ€™s flag waved her offside.
Thailand mounted waves of attacks late in the match, but Indian defence prevented any further damage, as they remained at the bottom of the table, behind Iran, who they play on September 23.
—IANS

India succumbed to their second defeat in as many matches in Group A of the AFC U17 Women's Asian Cup Qualifiers

India U17 girls go down to Thailand in AFC Asian Cup qualifiers

Hangzhou: Indian women's football team suffered a heart-breaking 1-2 loss to Chinese Taipei in their opening game in Group B at the 19th Asian Games, here on Thursday.  Anju Tamang's opener was cancelled out by two late Chinese Taipei goals to leave India empty-handed, yet with the belief that they weren't too far from one of the top teams on the continent.  Thomas Dennerby's team, playing its first match since March, got off the blocks quickly as Manisha Kalyan almost created a goal-scoring opportunity for the returning Bala Devi in the first minute.   The resultant corner almost yielded a goal, Dalima Chhibber’s ball at the near post was barely put wide by Teng Pei-Lin under pressure from Indumathi Kathiresan. From there, though, Taipei seized control of the game, slowly suffocating India off the ball and then space.  In the sixth minute, a mistake in the Indian midfield saw Yen-Ping unmarked inside the box, played through and bearing on goal. Her shot was smothered by Shreya Hooda to keep the score level.  Taipei kept possession and moved the ball around smoothly, but India constantly looked dangerous on the counter. Indumathi and Manisha were at the centre of anything good from the Blue Tigresses, their first touch and ability to find gaps to spray passes were crucial to India's counter-attacks.  India's best chance and perhaps the closest one came in the 36th minute. Manisha Kalyan's pace had constantly been a threat, and this time, as she drove into the box, she had two targets to pick from, in Bala Devi and Tamang. Her eventual decision was to go with a shot that hit the crossbar and dropped perfectly into Tamang's path, whose shot was closed down by a desperate Taipei defence.  India were flying off the blocks upon start of the second half and got the opener, with Tamang picking up the ball on the flank and driving into the box at speed. Her low shot was spilled by the goalkeeper into Manisha's path. With the goal gaping, she shot, but it was blocked on the line by the last defender. The rebound fell perfectly to Tamang, though, who slammed it into the roof of the net to spark the celebrations.  Taipei were stunned and it took them the better part of 10 minutes to recover. In that period, India looked the likelier to score, and created the bulk of the chances. Tamang was again at the centre of the action, her cross tipped by the 'keeper into Manisha's path in the 66th. Manisha blazed high.  Three minutes later India were made to pay for their inefficiency, some brilliant interplay at the top of the box, giving Lai Li-Chin a fraction of space to take a shot. She shot brilliantly, the ball hitting the underside of the crossbar before nudging in.  With the wind in their sails, Taipei took control of the game and scored the winner in the 84th minute, Su Yu-Hsuan capitalising on a rare miscommunication in defence to run onto a long ball and score into an empty net.  For India, it was a distressing result but also a sign that they were playing on equal terms with higher-ranked opposition and a sign that there would be more to come.  Indian women will be next in action against Thailand on Sunday at the Xiaoshan Sports Centre Stadium.  The five group winners will advance to the quarterfinals. The three best runners-up from Groups A, B, D and E will take the remaining quarters spots.  —IANS

Indian women's football team suffered a heart-breaking 1-2 loss to Chinese Taipei in their opening game in Group B at the 19th Asian Games

Asian Games: Indian women's football team lose 1-2 to Chinese Taipei in Group B opener

Madrid: Real Sociedad drew 1-1 at home to last season’s beaten Champions League finalists Inter Milan, in a game they might have won with ease but ended up clinging on for a point.
Real Sociedad opened the scoring in the fourth minute of the game when Brais Mendez curled home a left-foot shot after Ander Barrenetxea’s powerful effort bounced back to him off the post, reports Xinhua.
The San Sebastian side, with Barrenetxea and Takefusa Kubo both active down the wings, were in complete control of the game and both Robin Le Normand and Kieran Tierney had chances to add to the score before Mikel Oyarzabal hit the crossbar, although the chance was ruled out for offside.
Oyarzabal had a good chance early in the second half after Le Normand’s flick following a set-piece, but his header went straight at Inter keeper Yann Sommer.
Le Normand then saw a header graze the top of the Inter crossbar, before last season’s runners-up began to show some of their football.
The last 10 minutes saw Inter finally begin to attack, while Real Sociedad began to think about protecting rather than extending their lead, and the home side paid for that when Lautaro Martinez popped up at the far post to equalize in the 87th minute.
The Inter striker had been almost invisible until his goal, but from that moment, the Italians were in control and La Real had to cling on for a draw.
Europa League champions Sevilla began their Champions League campaign with a 1-1 draw at home to French side Lens in their difficult qualifying group.
Lucas Ocampos opened the scoring for Sevilla with a powerful header from an Ivan Rakitic cross in the ninth minute, but the home side’s advantage didn’t last long.
Angelo Fulgini leveled for Lens in the 24th minute with a thundering free kick, which Sevilla keeper Marco Dmitrovic got his fingertips to but was unable to keep out.
Lens keeper Brice Samba then made two fine saves to deny Ocampos and Youssef En-Nesyri to keep the score level before the break.
Mariano Diaz had a good chance for Sevilla in the last minute, but sent his shot high over the crossbar.
Earlier in the evening, Jude Bellingham scored in the 94th minute to give Real Madrid a 1-0 win at home to Union Berlin.
Madrid had a hatful of chances and took 16 corners, but it wasn’t until virtually the last action that the England international was able to score following a penalty area scramble.
—IANS

Real Sociedad drew 1-1 at home to last season’s beaten Champions League finalists Inter Milan, in a game they might have won

Real Madrid win, Sevilla, Real Sociedad draw in Champions League openers

Hanghou: Japan beat Qatar 3-1 in the first round of Group D in the Hangzhou Asian Games men's football competitions here. Despite being composed mostly of college players, the Japanese side is still a strong title contender, reports Xinhua. Japan scored from a free kick just two minutes into the game, and extended their lead to 2-0 in the 25th minute. After the restart, Qatar strengthened the attack and scored from long range to recover their hope with more than 10 minutes left. In the final stage of the game, Japan scored again to seal a 3-1 win. Also on Wednesday, two group matches in Group C were canceled due to the withdrawal of the Afghan and Syrian teams, and Uzbekistan and Hong Kong, China progressed to the round of 16 in advance.
—IANS

Japan beat Qatar 3-1 in the first round of Group D in the Hangzhou Asian Games men's football competitions here

Japan outplay Qatar in Hangzhou Asiad men's football

Berlin: Bayern Munich started their UEFA Champions League campaign with a hard earned 4-3 victory over Manchester United.
United took the reins from the start and almost stunned the German giants with three minutes gone, but Bayern goalkeeper Sven Ulreich was equal to Christian Eriksen’s close-range attempt from a tight angle, reports Xinhua.
United posed more of a threat but it was the Bavarians who opened the scoring out of thin air in the 28th minute. Leroy Sane exchanged a one-two with Harry Kane inside the box before catching United custodian Andre Onana flat-footed.
Bayern doubled their advantage only four minutes later as Jamal Musiala raced down the right wing and squared the ball into the box, allowing Serge Gnabry to poke home from close range.
The visitors recovered after the restart and halved the deficit four minutes into the second half when Marcus Rashford teed up for Rasmus Hojlund, who beat Ulreich into the far corner.
United’s joy didn’t last long, as Bayern restored their two-goal advantage after the referee awarded the hosts a penalty following a VAR handball review in the 53rd minute. Kane stepped up and drilled the ball from the spot into the bottom right corner to make it 3-1.
Sane nearly made it four moments later, but the left post denied the Germany international from the edge of the box.
It looked like United’s resistance was broken as Bayern dominated possession and continued to press forward. Bayern kept Onana busy but neither Kane nor Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting was able to add more goals.
Bayern were in complete control but United still reduced the deficit against the run of play as Casemiro tapped home a loose ball inside the area.
The hosts responded in injury-time and made it 4-2 after Mathys Tel hammered Joshua Kimmich’s pinpoint cross into the roof of the net.
The Red Devils rallied again after Casemiro headed home his second of the game following a free kick from Bruno Fernandes in the dying seconds, but there was no time to try to find an equalizer.
“It is not the result we wanted but we played against a very strong opponent on the road. We started well in the second half but, as I said, it is not the result we wanted,” said United defender Victor Lindelof.
—IANS

Bayern Munich started their UEFA Champions League campaign with a hard earned 4-3 victory over Manchester United.

Bayern down Manchester United in a seven-goal thriller

Manchester (UK): Manchester City began the defence of our UEFA Champions League trophy with a 3-1 victory over Serbian champions Red Star Belgrade (Crvena Zvezda) on the opening night, here at the Etihad Stadium.
Champions League holders had to come from behind but a classy second-half display with Julian Alvarez’s brace and Rodrigo’s strike and earned the win against the Serbian champions on Tuesday night.
Red Star initially took the lead on the brink of half-time when Osman Bukari’s goal was awarded following a VAR check for offside. Erling Haaland headed against the crossbar and visiting goalkeeper Omri Glazer made a string of saves before Bukari ran through to beat Ederson for a shock lead.
However, Alvarez had City on level terms just 73 seconds into the second period before his free-kick on the hour – intended more as a cross than a shot – beat everyone and completed the turnaround. Then, Rodrigo, who scored the winner in June’s final, made the game safe with a cultured finish in the 73rd minute.
City have now gone 27 Champions League home games since their last Etihad defeat – a run stretching all the way back to September 2018.
Notably, Glazer made 13 saves, the first time a goalkeeper has made ten or more saves in a Champions League match since Kamil Grabara for Copenhagen in October 2022, also against Manchester City.
—IANS

Manchester City began the defence of our UEFA Champions League trophy with a 3-1 victory over Serbian champions Red Star Belgrade

Champions League: Manchester City begins title defence with 3-1 comeback win over Red Star

Bhubaneswar: Mohun Bagan Super Giant put on a dominant performance against a ten-man Odisha FC, beating the Juggernauts 4-0 in the opening clash of the AFC Cup 2023-24 group stage at Kalinga Stadium, here on Tuesday.
Two goals from Australian forward Dimitri Petratos and one each from Sahal Abdul Samad and Liston Colaco helped the Mariners secure a resounding victory to kick off their AFC Cup group stage campaign.
Both Spanish head coaches fielded their best possible lineups, with Odisha FC starting all six of their foreign players in the XI, while the Mariners began with five foreigners, with Jason Cummings coming off the bench in the second-half.
The match started slowly, with both teams sizing each other up, but the Mariners gradually found their rhythm as the game progressed. Hugo Boumous had a great opportunity in the 34th minute when Sahal Abdul Samad set him up, but his volleyed effort hit the side net. Minutes later, Odisha FC also had their first real chance as Jerry Mawihmingthanga connected with a cross, but his header narrowly cleared the bar. However, the highlight of the first half came moments before half-time when Odisha FC defender Mourtada Fall was shown a red card after receiving his second yellow card.
In the second half, the Mariners went all out against the ten-man Odisha FC side, and it didn’t take them long to break the deadlock. Samad opened the scoring for the Kolkata-based club with a brilliant curled effort from the edge of the box in the 46th minute. Despite introducing new faces, Lobera’s side couldn’t match the numerical advantage that Mohun Bagan Super Giant enjoyed.
In the 64th minute, Petratos capitalised on a mistake from Odisha FC and broke through on goal, but his effort was cleared off the line by Ahmed Jahouh after goalkeeper Amrinder Singh got a hand to it. However, moments later, the Juggernauts’ custodian failed to collect a ball, and Petratos, who was rushing in, made no mistake in slotting it into the open net. Liston Colaco and Dimitri Petratos scored two goals in quick succession, further adding to the misery for the Odisha FC side.
Mohun Bagan Super Giant will next host Maziya S&amp;RC on October 2, while Odisha FC will travel to Bangladesh to take on Basundhara Kings on the same date.
—IANS

Mohun Bagan Super Giant put on a dominant performance against a ten-man Odisha FC, beating the Juggernauts 4-0 in the opening clash

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