The Nigerian striker score twice in a 3-0 victory over the Mumbai team.
A formidable Saudi Arabia didn't bring their 'A' game to the fore, but were strong enough to ward off a gutsy challenge from India winning their pre-quarterfinal match 2-0 in the men's football competition in Hangzhou on Thursday.
Captain Sunil Chettri starred in India's 5-0 victory over Chinese Taipei, registering his third career-hat-trick, but the feat did not invoke wild celebrations from the striker, as he is someone who does not like to "celebrate outrageously" on the field.
Bengaluru FC captain Sunil Chhetri feels that his club making it to the summit clash of the AFC Cup heralds a beginning in the revival of Indian football. Bengaluru take on Iraq's Al Quwa Al Jawiya in Saturday's final at the Qatar SC Stadium in Doha. "Bengaluru reaching the AFC Cup final in the host country of the 2022 World Cup, and hopefully winning it, has signaled the beginning of the revival of Indian football as an Asian power," said Chhetri who is also the India captain.
India football team's coach Igor Stimac has lashed out at the referee for 'robbing' his side of victory in the semi-final of the King's Cup against Iraq.
India opened their Group D campaign with a 2-0 win over Cambodia where Sunil Chhetri scored a brace. Chhetri also scored the first goal against Afghanistan.
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.
Check out the Bollywood stars' presence in the cash rich ISL.
In what was a repeat of last season's final at the same venue, Miku's 41st minute strike was enough for the Blues to overcome the visitors' challenge.
India lose to Iraq in penalty shootout, face Lebanon in bronze medal playoff.
Having started the year in the 129th position, the Sunil Chhetri-led team end the year at 105th spot in the FIFA rankings
India started the match on an attacking note with striker Udanata Singh's cross the in early minutes rang the warning bells for the Syrian defense but the ball did not find Sunil Chhetri in the box. Syrian Almarmour had the opportunity to take a lead in the match but he shot wide. India continued attacking in the first half but were unable to find the opener.
'We have played just two matches, and we have played well, that too against two powerful teams. It gives us that added motivation and confidence that in football, anything is possible'
Here are some of the controversies, which cast a shadow on Indian sport as the athletes prepared for the Asian Games.
Summary of I-League football matches played across India on Friday.
Striker C K Vineeth struck a second-half goal as Bengaluru Football Club beat new entrant Aizawl FC by a solitary goal in an I-League match in Bengaluru, on Sunday.
The Indian football team put up a better display in their second group game but lost 2-0 to a superior Jordan thus ending their campaign in the 17th Asian Games in Incheon on Monday.
India warmed up nicely for the upcoming AFC Asian Cup qualifier match against Kyrgyzstan as they outclassed lower-ranked Nepal 2-0 in an international football friendly in Mumbai on Tuesday.
BFC's Augusto, Chhetri and Udanta combined in the final third but neither of the trio could apply the finishing touch.
The loss meant Mumbai City FC missed the chance to regain the top spot
Dejected French striker Nicolas Anelka is on the hunt for his 13th club after failing to guide Mumbai City into the knockout stage of the Indian Super League.
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.
The fairy tale run of Real Kashmir Football Club in the I-League continued as the club from the Valley defeated Gokulam Kerala FC by a solitary goal to jump to top of the I-League.
Goals from Ibrahim Mahudhee (64th minute) and Cornelius Stewart (80th) on either side of a Nili Perdomo (71st) spot-kick for the Blues gave Maziya the advantage ahead of the second leg in Bengaluru next week.
Indian football was a picture of good health with a 10-man under-20 outfit's triumph over Argentina
Mohun Bagan and India striker Jeje Lalpekhlua was declared winner of the 'Indian Player of the Year' award by the Football Players Association of India (FPAI) at its annual awards function held at the Cooperage Ground in Mumbai. The 25-year-old from Mizoram, who made his international debut in 2012 and came through the junior ranks, received the highest number of votes from fellow professional footballers, beating the challenge from the short list of India captain Sunil Chhetri, Bikash Jairu, David Lalrinmuana and Dhanachandra Singh, to win the coveted award. Jeje, incidentally, was the winner of the FPAI's Junior Indian Footballer of the Year award in 2011, AIFF Emerging Player of the Year award in 2013 and the 2015 Indian Super League Emerging Player of the League award while representing franchise outfit Chennayin FC, the eventual champions, on loan from Bagan.
India's national football coach Stephen Constantine on Friday anointed towering goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu as captain for Saturday's international friendly against higher-ranked Puerto Rico at the suburban Andheri Sports Complex ground in Mumbai. "Gurpreet Singh Sandhu will captain the team on Saturday against Puerto Rico," Constantine announced at the fag end of the pre-match media conference to give a huge boost to the 24-year-old, one of the youngest players to lead the national football team.
Tshering Dorji scored the only goal of the match in the 84th minute for the small Himalayan nation, ranked last of the 209 teams in FIFA's rankings, against Sri Lanka.
Acting on the Sports Ministry's directive to send nominations for this year's sports awards, the AIFF did not have much trouble in finalising the names.
Jeje Lalpekhlua (72nd minute) and Sunil Chhettri (101th) scored for India after Zubayr Amiri had given Afghanistan the lead in the 69th minute at the Greenfield Stadium.
The former India captain says he will consider contesting for the president of AIFF in the future.
For Bengaluru, Cleiton Silva (27') and Juanan Gonzalez (57') scored and till the hour mark,
The Indian football team has re-entered the top-100 of the FIFA world rankings and is now placed at 99th at the latest chart released on Thursday.
Mumbai City FC and their state rivals FC Pune City played out a goalless draw in the Indian Super League football tournament at the D Y Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Friday.
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.
India overcame stubborn resistance to beat a spirited Maldives 3-2 and enter the final of the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championships for a record 10th time after the in-form Jeje Lalpekhlua struck twice in a thrilling semi-final, in Thiruvananthapuram, on Thursday.
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.
The two teams were locked 0-0 after 90 minutes. Even the first extra time saw no goals but Bengaluru got better of a 10-men Goan team 1-0, four minutes from the end of the second extra half.
The group stage Asian Cup exit turning out to be one bitter pill that he found too hard to swallow.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
