East Bengal FC secured a commanding 3-0 victory against NorthEast United FC in their Indian Super League match, fueled by a second-half double from Youssef Ezzejari and a late goal by Miguel Ferreira.
Anwar was handed a four-month ban by All India Football Federation (AIFF) in early September with the governing body holding the player "guilty" of terminating his contract with Mohun Bagan in an unjust manner and signing a new deal with East Bengal, having returned to his parent club Delhi FC.
Indian football team head coach Khalid Jamil on Wednesday announced 23 probables for the inconsequential Asian Cup qualifiers match against Bangladesh and talismanic striker Sunil Chhetri's name is missing from the list.
Ali starred for Delhi FC in the Durand Cup and in the I-League Qualifiers in 2021 where he finished as the top scorer for his side that paved his ISL entry with FC Goa, where he spent 15 months.
East Bengal FC produced a disciplined defensive performance to hold arch-rivals Mohun Bagan Super Giant to a goalless draw and qualify for the semifinals of the Super Cup.
Mohun Bagan Super Giant ended a 22-year wait for the IFA Shield title, prevailing 5-4 in a tense penalty shootout over arch-rivals East Bengal after a 1-1 stalemate in regulation and extra time at the Salt Lake Stadium, in Kolkata, on Saturday.
Sunil Chhetri and his two Bengaluru FC team-mates -- Rahul Bheke and Roshan Singh Naorem -- on Monday joined the national men's football team's preparatory camp in Bengaluru
India face hosts Tajikistan on August 29 followed by matches against Iran on September 1 and Afghanistan on September 4.
The injury to the 32-year-old stalwart is a big blow to India as they take on a strong Afghanistan side in their third and final Group B match on Thursday.
India now have two points from three matches after a 0-0 draw against Bangladesh and 0-1 loss to Hong Kong in their earlier match.
The camp is aimed at helping the Blue Tigers prepare for their two 2027 Asian Cup Qualifiers final round in Group C, where they will play two back-to-back matches against Singapore on October 9 at the National Stadium and on October 14 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Margao, Goa.
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Second-half strikes from Mikel Idiakez and Joby Justin fired debutants Diamond Harbour FC to a 2-1 win over East Bengal on Wednesday, sealing a spot in the 134th Durand Cup final against NorthEast United FC.
The Indian men's football team got the better of Oman 3-2 on penalties to finish third in the CAFA Nations Cup in Hisor, Tajikistan, on Monday.
'They know that when they go inside (the pitch), they have a job to do. So, there is no excuse.'
Talismanic striker Sunil Chhetri has been left out of the 35 probables named by newly-appointed Indian football team head coach Khalid Jamil for the upcoming CAFA Nations Cup in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
CAFA Nations Cup: Gurpreet, defenders earn India win over Tajikistan
There are four first-timers in Jamil's camp of 25 players -- defenders Alex Saji, Sunil Benchamin, Muhammed Uvais, and forward Manvir Singh.
The Blue Tigers raced to a 1-0 lead with the 21-year-old centreback Anwar scoring his maiden international goal four years after his career nearly ended on health grounds.
The squad announcement also marks the return of East Bengal's dependable central defender Anwar Ali, who had been sidelined since February due to a hamstring injury. He last featured in competitive action against Bengaluru FC in the ISL.
India are placed in Group C of the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Final Round qualifiers along with Bangladesh, Hong Kong, China and Singapore. The matches will be being played on a home-and-away round-robin format.
Kerala Blasters FC eliminated defending champions East Bengal FC from the Kalinga Super Cup with a 2-0 victory.
Indian club East Bengal produced an utterly dominant show to crush Bangladesh's Bashundhara Kings 4-0 in their AFC Challenge League match in Thimphu on Tuesday.
Anwar Ali, his current side East Bengal, and parent club Delhi FC on Thursday moved the Delhi High Court and sought a stay on the suspension imposed on the player.
East Bengal kicked off their AFC Challenge League campaign with a thrilling 2-2 draw against Bhutan's Paro FC, salvaging a crucial point thanks to Dimitrios Diamantakos' second-half equaliser.
India play out 1-1 draw with Vietnam in international football friendly
While the Red & Golds secured their fourth win in their last five matches in the competition, Jamshedpur FC, on the other hand, were inefficient in creating and finishing chances.
East Bengal scored four second half goals to recorded a sensational come-from-behind victory, beating Punjab FC 4-2 in their Indian Super League (ISL) match at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (VYBK) stadium in Kolkata on Tuesday.
Both teams showed urgency to find the winner but were denied, with Malaysia coming close just before the final whistle.
Kerala Blasters came back from a goal down to beat East Bengal 2-1 in their Indian Super League (ISL) match at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi on Sunday.
Led by Borja Herrera's sensational hat-trick, FC Goa secured their first win of their Indian Super League 2024-25 campaign as they edged past hosts East Bengal 3-2 in Kolkata on Friday.
The Indian senior men's team have begun their preparations for the upcoming friendly match against Vietnam, and head coach Manolo Mrquez believes his wards are in better physical shape now than in the September window.
Mumbai City FC rode on left-back Nathan Rodrigues' strike to hold Chennaiyin FC 1-1 in a thrilling draw in the 1000th match of the Indian Super League.
India had won the title in 2018 and 2023, while it was the first trophy for Syria who had finished third in 2019.
Mumbai City FC grabbed their maiden victory of the Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 season with a closely-fought 2-1 win against FC Goa in Margao on Saturday.
Proteas pacer Kwena Maphaka re-wrote the history books after South Africa's U-19 World Cup campaign concluded following their defeat in the semi-final against India.
Mohun Bagan beat East Bengal 1-0 to win Durand Cup title for first time after 23 years
Chhetri works his magic but India split points with Kuwait
Sunil Chhetri stirred up emotions in his final international outing but the Indian football team just could not rise to the occasion as it settled for a goalless draw against Kuwait.
Chhetri's record against the neighbours is quite impressive, scoring four goals in eight matches including a spectacular strike from a free kick in Kolkata in 2022.
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