United SC entered the semi-finals of the IFA shield after a 4-2 win over East Bengal on Saturday, while Pune FC's 2-0 win over AS Douanes of Senegal enabled Air India set up a final-four clash with Churchill Brothers.
Bogged down by inefficient administration and unable to attract financing, the once legendary football clubs of Kolkata are fading into irrelevance.
India internationals Steven Dias and N P Pradeep, who are in a transfer controversy with their employer, said since Mahindra United has agreed to a hike in their salary they have no issues in playing for the Mumbai club if the promise is kept.
Current I-League leaders Sporting Clube de Goa began their campaign in the 30th Federation Cup on a disastrous note, going down 0-2 to JCT in a Group C encounter at the Vidyasagar Krirangan in Barasat on Thursday. In another match East Bengal beat New Delhi Heroes by a similar margin.
Having missed the IFA Shield and Durand Cup, Baichung Bhutia said he is not fully fit and will take some time to settle down when he dons the East Bengal jersey in the I-League.
East Bengal and United SC squandered chances galore to settle for a goalless draw in their Round 12 encounter of the final leg of the ONGC I-League at Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on Saturday.
India striker Sunil Chhetri will appear for trials at English club Coventry City. Chhetri, who plays for East Bengal, has been granted a week's leave (from January 25-31) by his club, said an official. 'We have granted him a week's permission with an official letter. We hope he won't miss out on any matches on account of the trials,' the official said.
Surojit Bose played for India under coach Sukhwinder Singh from 2004-08 and was instrumental in Mahindra United's NFL triumph in 2005-06.
Kapil assured that his panel will do their job to the best of their ability.
The BJP knows the CAA, combined with a fresh nationwide NRC process, is an idea that's dead on arrival. Where it lives on is as a divisive, polarising instrument as its rivals have to take a position against it and thereby be exposed to the charge of 'Muslim appeasement' again, points out Shekhar Gupta.
Take Norma Godinho's quiz to find out just how much you know about sport.
India began the year on 97 in FIFA rankings, but after two wins, four draws and seven losses, the country ended 2019 at 108
Among other transfer news globally, defender Rahul Bheke joins Mumbai City FC while Locatelli completes Juventus move.
Mboyo Iyomi's spectacular strike enabled Churchill Brothers, Goa, edge out ten-man East Bengal and catch up leaders Dempo Sports Club on points in the I-league on Sunday.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
Bhaichung Bhutia scored the solitary goal as Mohun Bagan beat East Bengal 1-0 in their eighth outing of the I-League football tournament.
A summary of sports events and sports persons, who made news on Wednesday
The prolific Nigerian scored a hat-trick as Churchill Brothers returned to winning ways with a 3-2 win over East bengal.
Churchill Brothers edged out a spirited East Bengal side 3-2 and gained full points in the 5th round ONGC I-League Championship.
A hat-trick by Brazilian striker Eduardo de'Silva powered JCT Phagwara to a 3-1 victory over East Bengal in the I-league Football Championship in Kolkata on Friday night. Eduwardo scored in the 43rd, 67th and 82nd minutes while East Bengal struck in the 50th minute through Edmilson, also a Brazilian.
Mohun Bagan rallied to pip arch-rivals East Bengal 2-1 in an exciting National Football League match.
Dibyendu Karfa tells us how he got past cultural differences to marry the girl he loved.
Dempo emerged NFL champions after holders Mahindra United went down 1-2 to East Bengal.
Churchill Brothers scored their maiden win of the season when they came back from behind to down 10-man Bengaluru FC 2-1 in the fifth round of the hero I-League match, in Vasco, on Friday.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
East Bengal named Bikash Panji as the interim coach for the upcoming Durand Cup
The club said it will wear black badges to protest against the IFA's alleged partisan attitude towards East Bengal.
Desperate to get back to his ailing mother in Scotland, Real Kashmir FC coach David Robertson and his UK-based players' stay in Srinagar has got extended due to unavailability of chartered flights from the Valley. With his mother undergoing chemotherapy for cancer in Aberdeen, the coach is anxious and so is his co-owner, Sandeep Chattoo, who has been in constant touch with officials from the government, trying to work out a solution.
Summary of sports events and persons who made news on Monday
Mahindra United clinched their maiden National Football League title after East Bengal lost to Sporting Club de Goa 1-3.
Do you think the presence of Brazilian medio Douglas da Silva, defender Suley Musah of Ghana and Nigerian striker Mike Okoro gave East Bengal the winning edge?
Churchill Brothers came back from behind strongly to end Mohun Bagan's unbeaten run with a 2-1 win in the 12th round match of Hero I-League at Tilak Stadium, in Vasco, on Saturday.
Bilic took over the reins at West Brom in 2019 and was tasked with gaining promotion from the Championship to the top flight.
The Nigerian striker scored his 12th goal as the Goa side beat JCT Mills 1-0 in the National Football League.
Bengaluru FC offer to play friendly in Srinagar, Real Kashmir invite them in March
The Asian Football Confederation recommended the AIFF to "open a pathway" for two I-League clubs' entry into ISL by the end of 2020-21 season.
The Ghanian defender will have Dipankar Roy as his deputy.
The Mumbai outfit are also negotiating with East Bengal's Baichung Bhutia.
History beckons trailblazers Bengaluru FC as they lock horns with Air Force Club of Iraq in the summit clash of AFC Cup in Doha on Saturday, aiming to become the first Indian football club to clinch a continental title. Bengaluru FC have already created history by becoming the first Indian club to qualify for the final of a continental tournament after they defeated defending champions Johor Darul Ta'zim in the semifinals on 4-2 aggregate last month. Before this, the farthest an Indian club had advanced in a continental tournament was the two AFC Cup semifinal appearances by Dempo in 2008 and East Bengal in 2013.
Mahindra United moved to the third place in the National Football League with a 3-1 victory over Sporting Clube de Goa.
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