India produced a dominant display to beat Maldives 2-0 and book a semifinal spot in the South Asian Football Federation Cup, in Dhaka, on Sunday.
The result means ATKMB could not break into the top-four, remaining fifth with 20 points from 12 games.
Chhetri expressed his desire to play the Asian Cup on home soil
India's men's football team played out a 1-1 draw against Nepal in an international friendly, in Kathmandu on Thursday, thanks to substitute Anirudh Thapa's equaliser after the hosts grabbed the lead.
As in their last match against Kerala Blasters, ATKMB struggled to get going initially, while SCEB made some fine attacking moves but lacked the finishing touches.
ATKMB looked the likelier of the two teams to take the lead in the opening exchanges, with the Mariners needing two goals at least to make a comeback.
Playing with ten debutants, India came back strongly in the second half to eke out a draw in their first international game since the COVID-19 lockdown last March.
India now play Bangladesh in the summit clash on Sunday.
Roy Krishna had a couple of half-chances thereafter but good reflexes from Mirshad Michu in NorthEast goal and Krishna's inefficiency to keep the ball on target kept the score to 1-0.
Seven-time champions India were held to a goalless draw by 205th ranked Sri Lanka despite a dominant display in their second SAFF Championships match, in Male, on Thursday.
Sunil Chhetri equalled the iconic Lionel Messi with his 80th international strike as an inspired India blanked Nepal 3-0 for their eighth SAFF Championship title, in Male, on Saturday. India extended their domination in the regional tournament thanks to second half goals from Chhetri (49th minute), Suresh Singh (50th) and Sahal Abdul Samad (90th).
Farukh Choudhary and skipper Sunil Chhetri struck in the second half to guide India to a 2-1 victory over Nepal in their second International friendly, in Kathmandu, on Sunday.
The first meeting of the season between Hero Indian Super League heavyweights finished all square after FC Goa and Bengaluru FC shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw, in Margao, on Monday.
Valskis scored in the 30th and 66th minute while Roy Krishna pulled one back for ATKMB in the 80th minute.
ATKMB dominated the early exchanges and constantly raided the opposition box. However, Odisha did well to close down the spaces and keep things tight at the back.
To add to all the dismay and frustration, the luggage including players' kits, team equipment and personal belongings of all the players and support staff also went missing when they landed.
Bengaluru FC played their hearts out to score an equaliser but looked clueless against an organised ATKMB defence
India suffered an embarrassing 0-6 rout at the hands of formidable United Arab Emirates -- their heaviest defeat against the Gulf side -- in the second international football friendly in Dubai on Monday.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
Having endured a topsy-turvy start to their campaign before a fine turnaround, seven-time champions India start as title favourites when they take on first-time finalists Nepal in the summit clash of the SAFF Championships, in Male, on Saturday.
Poor finishing and scrappy defending put paid to India's quest for an eighth South Asian Football Federation Cup title as it suffered a 1-2 defeat against Maldives in the summit clash, in Dhaka, on Saturday.
Sunil Chhetri likened the national team setup with his home and expressed his relief at returning to where he belongs
News of all that transpired on and off the football field
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
An unmarked Pritam Kotal got in between the Goa centre-backs and nodded the ball into the net to give them the lead.
Summary of sports events and persons who made news on Sunday.
FC Goa overcame a strong fightback from Odisha FC after being three goals up to prevail 4-2 and reclaim the top spot in the Indian Super League, at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, on Wednesday.
India remained winless in their qualifying campaign so far.
Images from the soccer matches played across Europe on Saturday.
In a first for ATK Mohun Bagan this season, two first-half goals signalled the downfall for a beleaguered Bengaluru FC
Dheeraj, whose performance under the woodwork during the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup in India earned him accolades, is the third player after skipper Amarjit Singh and defender Anwar Ali from that squad, to get a call in the senior team camp.
India are virtually knocked out of the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying round after losing 0-1 to Oman, in Muscat, on Tuesday.
In a quick disposal of a rape case, a local court on Tuesday convicted five accused of raping a 20-year-old German tourist in Chandigarh in September. Pankaj Punia, Manvir Singh Jolly, Harpreet Singh Dalli, Sukhwinder Singh Sukhi and Sompal were booked for kidnapping the woman from outside a five star hotel here on September 28 and taking her to a farmhouse in Haryana's Samalakha area, where she was gang raped.
Rio Olympian Sandeep Tomar, Amit Dhankar and Satyawart Kadian have bagged gold medals in their respective men's freestyle categories at the Commonwealth Wrestling championships in Singapore.
Star striker Ferran Corominas converted an early penalty (6th minute) to hand the hosts the lead before second-half strikes from Jackichand Singh (55th), Edu Bedia (61st) made it 3-0. A late brace from Miguel Palanca (84th, 90th) condemned Mumbai City to a heavy defeat.
Adil Khan ensured that India at least secure a point from the home match
The India football captain said others players in the side are very much capable of outperforming him.
Buoyed by their gallant goalless draw against Asian champions Qatar, India would be looking to register their first win in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers when they take on Bangladesh.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
India will start as favourites against Maldives in the summit clash of the South Asian Football Federation Cup, in Dhaka, on Saturday.
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