Football

Comeback man Chhetri scores as India beat Maldives 3-0 in friendly football match

This was India’s first win in 16 months and also first under Manolo Marquez Shillong: The talismanic Sunil Chhetri scored on his international comeback to lead India to a commanding 3-0 victory over Maldives in a football friendly here on Wednesday, helping the home side snap their 12-match winless streak that started in November 2023. Rahul Bheke gave India the lead in the 35th minute before Liston Colaco made it 2-0 in the 66th minute. The 40-year-old Chhetri, who returned to the national team after hanging his boots in May last year, made it a memorable day as he scored India’s third with a glancing header in the 77th minute for his 95th international goal. Captain Chhetri, who was denied by…

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Sreenidi Deccan settles for draw against Inter Kashi at I-League

K Prasanth opened the scoring for the visitors in the 17th minute, but David Castaneda equalised in the 48th minute HYDERABAD: Sreenidi Deccan FC settled for a two-all draw against Inter Kashi in the 19th round of the I-League football championship at Deccan Arena here on Wednesday. K Prasanth opened the scoring for the visitors in the 17th minute, but David Castaneda equalised in the 48th minute. The Deccan Warriors then took the lead through Brandon Vanlalremdika in the 72nd minute, but soon, the visitors responded with a late equalizer from Bidyashagar Singh in the 91st minute. Assistant coach Ishant Singh made one change to his starting eleven, bringing in Lalnuntluanga in place of Lanchungnunga. The visitors controlled the game from…

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Sreenidi Deccan FC takes on Inter Kashi

In the last league fixture, the Deccan Warriors recorded a 1-0 win away to Delhi FC, while Inter Kashi defeated Namdhari FC 3-2 HYDERABAD: Sreenidi Deccan FC gear up for the final stretch of the I-League 2024-25 when it takes on Inter Kashi at the Deccan Arena here on Wednesday under floodlights. In the last league fixture, the Deccan Warriors recorded a 1-0 win away to Delhi FC, while Inter Kashi defeated Namdhari FC 3-2 in a hard-fought battle in Kolkata. Assistant coach Ishant Singh, who is currently in charge of the Deccan Warriors, said that they analysed our opponents and are preparing accordingly for the upcoming games. “However, at the moment, our entire focus is on the match against Inter…

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Indian footballers get into the groove ahead of AFC Asian Cup Qualifier

Indian senior men’s team have had two training sessions in Shillong SHILLONG: The Indian senior men’s team have had two training sessions in Shillong to get into the groove for the AFC Asian Cup Qualifier against Bangladesh (March 25) and the preparatory friendly against Maldives (March 19). Defender Rahul Bheke, who scored in India’s last match against Malaysia in November, said they had a good start to the camp, with two solid training sessions. “We still have two more days before our friendly, and that’s great preparation for the 25th game (against Bangladesh). I think Maldives will be a good test because they are a similar kind of side to what Bangladesh will be,” he said. Maldives’ 22-member squad landed in…

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Gokulam Kerala stuns Odisha in Indian Women’s League

After starting off the season with two draws, Gokulam Kerala have pulled themselves up marvellously, winning six matches on the trot HYDERABAD: Gokulam Kerala remained in the hunt for the Indian Women’s League football title, shocking defending champions Odisha FC 3-1 at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneshwar’s Kalinga Stadium on Saturday. The winners led 2-0 at the break. Fazila Ikwaput (42’, 59’) increased her goals tally to 15, scoring two against Odisha, while Juggernauts’ striker Pyari Xaxa (32’) scored an own goal. Substitute Neha (50’) scored for the hosts. After starting off the season with two draws, Gokulam Kerala have pulled themselves up marvellously, winning six matches on the trot, and are currently placed at the top of the table with…

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Hyderabad FC settles for draw in last ISL league encounter against Kerala Blasters FC

The result also meant that Kerala Blasters wrapped up the campaign with 29 points to finish eighth while HFC finished at the penultimate place with 18 points Hyderabad: Former champions, Hyderabad FC, settled for a one-all draw against Kerala Blasters FC in the final league match of the Indian Super League (ISL)championship at the GMC Balayogi Stadium here on Wednesday. The result also meant that Kerala Blasters wrapped up the campaign with 29 points to finish eighth while HFC finished at the penultimate place with 18 points. It was the Kerala outfit which was on the offensive straight away with Korou Singh and Mohammed Aimen interlinking to test the rival defence. Korou’s cross was shot by Aimen but thwarted for a…

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Ramhlunchhunga, the only bright spot in otherwise dismal HFC campaign

Ramhlunchhunga’s story is another reminder of the potential that young Indian players possess and the league continues to be a stage for them to shine HYDERABAD: Even as Hyderabad FC failed to strike its wonted form to be a force to reckon with, winger Ramhlunchhunga has been brilliant with his skills throughout the league to be the shining star in an otherwise lacklustre show by former champions HFC. Indisputably, this young footballer has emerged as one of HFC’s brightest sparks, suggesting he could be a vital piece in the club’s future. His story is another reminder of the potential that young Indian players possess and the league continues to be a stage for them to shine. Ramhlunchhunga’s rise to prominence has…

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Hyderabad FC look to play for pride as they take on Kerala Blasters in ISL

The home team is in the penultimate place on the points table with 17 points from 23 games HYDERABAD: Former champions, Hyderabad FC, take on Kerala Blasters FC in the ISL last league match before the play-offs at the GMC Balayogi Stadium here on Wednesday. With both the teams out of reckoning for a top six place, it should be a contest for redemption and look to finish off the campaign on a winning note. The home team is in the penultimate place on the points table with 17 points from 23 games while Kerala Blasters has 28 points to be ninth. It is also a chance for HFC to complete their first-ever league double against Kerala having won the reverse…

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SAFF-U19 from May 9: Defending champions India in Group B alongside Nepal and Sri Lanka

Top two teams from each group will qualify for the semi-finals that will be played on May 16 NEW DELHI: Defending champions, India, is placed alongside Nepal and Sri Lanka in Group B of the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) under-19 championship to be held at the Golden Jubilee Stadium in Yupia (Arunachal Pradesh) from May 9 to 18. It is the same venue which also hosted the Santosh Trophy final round in March 2024. Maldives, Bhutan and Bangladesh were drawn in Group A. The teams were seeded in three pots based on the latest FIFA Men’s Rankings as of December 2024. The top two teams from each group will qualify for the semi-finals that will be played on May 16.…

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Castaneda powers Hyd’s Sreenidhi FC to 1-0 win against Delhi FC in I-League Championship

Fourth away win of the season for Sreenidi Deccan FC; to host Inter Kashi FC at Deccan Arena on March 19 HYDERABAD: Sreenidi Deccan FC recorded its fourth away win of the season when it defeated Delhi FC 1-0 in a Round 18 fixture of the I-League Championship at Mahilpur in Punjab on Saturday. David Castaneda scored the only goal of the match in the 62nd minute. Assistant coach Ishant Singh, currently in charge of the team, made three changes to his starting eleven, bringing in Gurmukh Singh, Lalchungnunga, and Ajay Chhetri to replace Hardik Bhatt, Angel Orelien, and Lalnuntluanga. The match started at a slow tempo, with both teams sharing possession without creating any clear opportunities. Apart from a few…

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