NorthEast United FC returned to the top of the Indian Super League table with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over FC Pune City at the Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex Stadium in Pune on Wednesday. In a match that saw fortunes fluctuating and both teams being reduced to 10 men, NorthEast United scored the winner through Emiliano Alfaro in the 79th minute.
Talented winger Lallianzuala Chhangte "would not mind" stepping up as the next number 9 of the Indian football team, after talismanic forward Sunil Chhetri's illustrious career comes to an end in Kolkata on June 6.
Having missed out on lucrative offers in the inaugural edition after his I-League club, Bengaluru FC, refused to release their players for the tournament, Indian football ace Sunil Chhetri is raring to go in the second second season which kicks-off on October 3.
As Chhetri celebrates his 31st birthday today, here is a look at what makes him stand out.
A summary of sports events and sports persons, who made news on Saturday
Iain Hume struck his second hat-trick of the season as defending champions Atletico de Kolkata today became the first team to seal a semifinal berth following their 4-1 rout of FC Pune City in the Indian Super League football tournament at the Vivekananda Yuva Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on Friday.
India's prolific film industry churns out scores of movies with plotlines bordering on the absurd every year but even Bollywood might have dismissed as too preposterous the story of the rise of soccer club Aizawl FC.
Striker Bartholomew Ogbeche scored a brace against one of his former clubs.
A summary of sports events and sports persons, who made news on Friday
Having performed his mother's shraddh ceremony, one of the stars of Indian Super League is now arranging oxygen cylinders, supplying food as a "frontline warrior" for his local club "Atlanta", located in South Kolkata's Golf Road region.
The win took the Highlanders to the second spot with eight points as they remained unbeaten from four matches.
Sunil Chhetri led former champions Bengaluru FC to a 1-0 win over East Bengal with his second-half strike that consolidated their position atop the standings in the I-League football at the Vidyasagar Krirangan, in Barasat, on Saturday.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field.
Italy's top-flight Serie A soccer league launched a new anti-racism campaign on Monday by presenting artwork featuring three side-by-side paintings of apes but the move has been described by campaign group Fare as a sick joke. News of all that's transpired on and off the football field.
A summary of sports events and sports persons, who made news on Thursday
Sachin Tendulkar was invited by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to be part of his official delegation for the Australia tour later this month, but the cricket icon has expressed his inability to make the trip due to prior commitments.
Goals from Matti Steinmann (6th) and Anthony Pilkington (68th) secured the victory for SCEB
Former Manchester United and Mumbai City forward, Uruguay's Diego Forlan and La Liga's managing director for India, Jose Antonio Cachaza discussed ways for India to become a footballing powerhouse. Norma Godinho/Rediff.com sat in as the duo discussed Indian football and the Spanish League's new India tie-up.
In a YouTube video post, Anelka said Houllier's comments were "of a racist nature" and he alleged that "it (was) not the first time".
Indian Super League franchise NorthEast United FC (NEUFC) co-owner John Abraham expressed optimism that the country's ranking in international football would go up to 'double digit' from the current 159th position in the next seven years.
Reinaldo da Cruz Oliveira struck a hat-trick as FC Goa secured their place in the semi-final of the Indian Super League (ISL) with a record 5-1 win over Kerala Blasters, in Kochi on Sunday.
Legendary Sachin Tendulkar along with his one-time opening partner Sourav Ganguly will be once again seen together along with Bollywood A Listers like Ranbir Kapoor, Hrithik Roshan and some of the other prominent actors like John Abraham and Abhishek Bachchan at the opening ceremony of the cash-rich Indian Super League.
Hertha Berlin's Salomon Kalou scored twice, including a stoppage-time penalty, to earn a last-gasp 2-2 draw at Bundesliga leaders Borussia Dortmund on Saturday.
Valskis scored in the 30th and 66th minute while Roy Krishna pulled one back for ATKMB in the 80th minute.
Former Indian cricket captain and co-owner of Atletico de Kolkata Sourav Ganguly on Monday said the presence of eminent foreign players in the Indian Super League (ISL) will help the Indian players raise their playing standards and improve Indian football in the years to come.
After launching the rebel Indian Cricket League, the Essel Group on Thursday unveiled its football team, Mumbai FC.
Summary of sports events and persons who made news on Sunday
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.
The coveted Durand Cup trophy received a grand welcome with two retired Army officers showing their daredevilry by jumping from Kolkata's tallest building -- The 42 -- a 65-floor, 260-metre landmark
Pires signed for FC Goa in the opening season of the ISL in 2014. However, after a year-long stint with the club, the world-cup winning Frenchman announced retirement.
Former England goalkeeper and Kerala Blasters captain-cum-manager David James came out in defence of the team's marquee players' performance in the ongoing Hero Indian Super League, saying that they have not come to India for 'retirement holiday'.
FC Goa took the lead through Igor Angulo (20th minute) and Redeem Tlang (23rd) before Suresh Wangjam (33rd) reduced Bengaluru's deficit.
John Stiven Mendoza Valencia scored a second half equaliser to help Chennayin FC eke out a 1-1 draw against FC Pune City in a Indian Super League match and maintain their supremacy atop the points table.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field.
India's new soccer league with its cast of celebrity owners, experienced foreign managers and a sprinkling of high-profile players will kick off on Sunday, igniting hopes of waking the country from its football slumber.
It was a second successive draw by the Csaba Laszlo-led side as they once again squandered plenty of chances to settle in the seventh place with 10 points from eight matches.
Thierry Henry came to Mumbai and left his fans in a daze as he showed off that famed, magical footwork while he trained budding talent from the city.
Second half of abandoned Rayo-Albacete will kick-off proceedings on return.
'RCB is a natural choice for us, mainly due to our long-standing association with Virat Kohli.'
Indian football team captain Sunil Chhetri on Monday tied the knot with long-time girlfriend Sonam Bhattacharya, daughter of Mohun Bagan legend Subrata Bhattacharya, at a grand wedding ceremony in Kolkata on Monday.