Spanish midfielder Javi Hernandez scored two stunning goals as Odisha FC made a winning start to their Hero Indian Super League campaign with a 3-1 victory over Bengaluru FC, at Tilak Maidan stadium in Vasco, Goa, on Wednesday.
Chennaiyin FC lifted their game to a level befitting the occasion and sent fancied Bengaluru FC crushing to a painful 2-3 defeat, clinching the Indian Super League title in style, in Bangalore, on Saturday.
Getting four points from two outings is best start in the league for Hyderabad.
Notice for ticket holders ahead of Durand Cup semis Kolkata
11 ISL clubs urge AIFF to urgently bring "current situation" of Indian football to SC's attention
Chennaiyin remained fifth with 18 points from 13 matches, but a victory would have taken them at the top of the tree with Hyderabad FC having 20 points from 12 outings.
The AIFF said Jamil has signed the contract after parting ways with ISL team Jamshedpur FC.
Dempo SC continued their unbeaten run and knocked Mumbai FC out of the tournament with a convincing 2-0 win and became the second team after Bengaluru FC to qualify for the semifinals of the Federation Cup.
ATK MB's first real opportunity of the game came midway through the first half when Boumous broke free on a counter-attack, shrugged off a challenge from Wangjam and managed to get a shot on target. Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, however, got a strong hand to the strike and parried away.
At 40 years and 126 days, Sunil Chhetri became the oldest hat-trick scorer in the ISL history
East Bengal look to revive fortunes in derby
FC Goa registered a 2-1 victory over Punjab FC on Wednesday in the Indian Super League marking their second consecutive win to climb to top-three in standings.
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.
Punjab FC will face Bengaluru FC next on February 1, while Jamshedpur FC will host FC Goa on February 2.
League organisers FSDL announced the fixtures of the first half of the ISL till December 29. The 12-team ISL, now the country's top tier league, will be in its 10th edition.
The win helped the home team jump to fourth spot from eighth in the standings with 21 points from 12 matches.
I-League 2 team Sudeva FC launches collaboration with VfB Stuttgart for grassroots development
India, who made it to two successive Asian Cups for the first time in 2023, are aiming to extend the streak. Hong Kong also qualified for the previous tournament, but with only one available berth, either side is bound to miss out.
Kerala Blasters FC on Monday announced the termination of services of their head coach Mikael Stahre with immediate effect after a string of poor performances by the club in the ongoing Indian Super League.
In a thrilling Hero Indian Super League final, ATK Mohun Bagan beat Bengaluru FC via penalties to clinch the ISL title.
I-League: Churchill Brothers send eight-man Shillong Lajong packing, climb to top
Sunil Chhetri said the current state of uncertainty in Indian football is very concerning and the sport's ecosystem is 'worried, hurt, and scared' by the top-tier ISL being put on hold indefinitely.
'We need to win and that's our No. 1 priority. We need to play good football, as it gives us more chances to succeed.'
Keeping their players' "safety and security" in mind, Mohun Bagan Super Giant have decided against travelling to Iran for their AFC Champions League 2 match against Tractor FC owing to the existing volatile situation in the west Asian nation.
'The issue stems from transfer of a player named Jason Cummings from another club two years ago and the training compensation fee. We have completed the payments at the time of signing.'
Mumbai City did put up a fight but Goa were clinical enough to notch up an emphatic win.
'Everyone knows what is at stake, and the approach and mindset that we need in these matches.'
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.
CK Vineeth showed his predatory skills with double strike in the extra time as Bengaluru FC beat Mohun Bagan 2-0 to win the 38th Federation Cup football tournament.
Two-time champions ATK rode on a David Williams brace to script a spectacular turnaround and storm into the final of the Indian Super League with a 3-2 aggregate win over holders Bengaluru FC, in Kolkata, on Sunday.
A stunning left-footed strike by Eugeneson Lyngdoh earned Bengaluru FC a 1-1 draw and a crucial away goal in their AFC Cup first leg semi-final match against defending champions Johor Darul Ta'zim, in Johor Bahru, on Wednesday.
Goals from Ezequiel Vidal and Filip Mrzljak helped Punjab FC defeat Hyderabad FC 2-0 and make it three wins in a row for the side in the Indian Super League in New Delhi on Wednesday.
Chennaiyin's defense was a tough nut to crack as Eli Sabia and Vishal Kaith came with crucial interceptions and blocks to deny Sunil Chhetri and Paartalu.
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.
The senior India squad began its preparatory camp in Bengaluru on August 15 ahead of next month's CAFA Nations Cup, but 13 players, including seven from Mohun Bagan, have skipped the camp.
The match had an eventful start with Chukwu sending his left-footed shot narrowly wide off the mark.
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.
'You're paying Rs 42 lakh for one game. Why not link it to qualification? It just shows how clueless the management is.'