Brazilian legend Zico arrived in Goa on Tuesday and was accorded a warm welcome by the FC Goa officials, laying all speculation to rest that he will not return back for the third edition of the ISL after the tournament's regulatory committee's decision.
But the hosts did have their equaliser in the 54th minute from another corner. Rene Mihelic whipped one into the far post where Rana Gharami managed to head it back across the box. Kotal, this time around, directed it home from close-range.
'Clifford did well to win the Super Cup for Odisha FC, and I'm sure we can expect a good performance from the Indian team.'
The national federation, which was able to stitch together the team just three days before its departure for China, still thanked the Indian Super League clubs and the FSDL "for coordinating with it for the release of players".
Odisha FC made a strong case for play-off qualification with a 2-1 victory over Hyderabad FC in the Indian Super League encounter, in Hyderabad, on Wednesday.
ATK Mohun Bagan started off with a more positive intent and dictated the pace of the game
FC Goa handed defending champions Chennaiyin FC a 3-1 defeat in an Indian Super League (ISL) match at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, in Chennai, on Saturday.
Goian's 83rd-minute strike was enough for Chennaiyin to win the contest 1-0 and complete the ISL play-off lineup.
Defender Anas Edathodika and midfielder Eugeneson Lyngdoh emerged as costliest picks for an identical Rs 1.1 crore by new outfit Jamshedpur FC and two-time champions ATK respectively in the Indian Super League domestic players draft in Mumbai on Sunday.
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.
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.
Hyderabad made a disastrous start to the game as Chinglensana Singh was sent off as early as the fifth minute.
Veteran striker Sunil Chhetri will be spearheading the Indian challenge and besides his longtime teammate Sandeep Jhingan, he will also be able to avail the services of Chinglensana Singh and Lalchungnunga.
After three losses on the trot, laggards SCEB finally opened their account
FC Goa returned the favour just four minutes later when Seriton Fernandes and Alberto Noguera played a quick one-two, before sending the former free on the right flank.
The All India Football Federation is exploring the possibility of selecting Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) for the Indian football team.
FC Goa took the lead through Igor Angulo (20th minute) and Redeem Tlang (23rd) before Suresh Wangjam (33rd) reduced Bengaluru's deficit.
Teen sensation R Praggnanandhaa will enter as the favourite among the three Indian participants in the Candidates chess tournament that will get underway in Toronto from Wednesday to decide the challenger for the next world championship match.
Former champions ATK suffered a 0-2 defeat to two-time runners-up Kerala Blasters in the opening match of the fifth Indian Super League (ISL) at the Saltlake Stadium, in Kolkata, on Saturday.
India international Anirudh Thapa scored in the first minute to set up Chennaiyin FC's 2-1 win over Jamshedpur FC in an Indian Super League match, in Vasco, on Tuesday.
Ending speculation around the merger of Indian Super League with I-League, the All India Football Federation on Tuesday virtually recognised ISL as the country's premier league as per a new roadmap, which will have three more seven-month leagues in a hierarchical system from 2017 onwards.
Chennaiyin FC stand in the way as Bengaluru FC, the model club of Indian football, seek a triumphant conclusion to what has been a remarkable maiden campaign in the Indian Super League, in Bengaluru on Saturday.
Despite losing the top spot to Mumbai, ATK Mohun Bagan will still harbour hopes of salvaging their season with a second successive Hero ISL title.
Ferran Corominas (14th, 38th) scored a brace while Federico Gallego (8th) and Bartholomew Ogbeche (53rd) found the net for the hosts.
Bengaluru made just one change from their previous encounter as Deshorn Brown came in to replace Erik Paartalu while Mumbai coach Sergio Lobera named an unchanged XI from the 2-0 win over Kerala Blasters.
Atletico de Kolkata were guilty of missing too many chances and were held to a goalless draw against FC Pune City in their concluding group encounter of Hero Indian Super League at Rabindra Sarobar Stadium, Kolkata, on Friday.
Mumbai City FC manager Peter Reid is all praise for his star signing, Frenchman Nicholas Anelka.
After the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and Virat Kohli, Mahendra Singh Dhoni has become the latest cricketer to own a football team in the high-profile Indian Super League, investing in the Chennaiyin FC ahead of the event starting October 12.
ATK Mohun Bagan entered the semifinals of the Indian Super League with a win over Hyderabad FC in Kolkata on Saturday.
Brandon Fernandes had a chance to put his side ahead in the game early on when he was set up by Jorge Ortiz on the left. The midfielder got the ball at the edge of the box and curled at the far post but only to see his attempt miss the top corner.
Impressed with the standard of football in the ongoing Indian Super League, India captain Sunil Chhetri feels the newly-launched tournament is an ideal platform for youngsters to perform and open the gates for selection to the national team.
Materazzi guided Chennaiyin to the title in the second season as they dramatically came from behind to beat hosts FC Goa 3-2 in the final.
It was one-way traffic in the opening half with Hyderabad all over Odisha. Their dominance saw them head into the break with a one-goal advantage after creating numerous chances.
Valskis scored in the 30th and 66th minute while Roy Krishna pulled one back for ATKMB in the 80th minute.
FC Goa missed the chance to enter the second leg of their Indian Super League (ISL) semi-finals with an advantage as they squandered a lead twice in their 2-2 draw against Mumbai City FC
The victory celebrations for Indian Super League (ISL) champions Chennaiyin FC turned sour as their marquee Brazilian Elano Blummer was arrested by the local police for allegedly assaulting FC Goa co-owner Dattaraj Salgaoncar.
With consecutive wins, Kerala now have 14 points from 12 matches.
Delhi Dynamos maintained their unbeaten run at home despite playing the entire second half with 10 men, as they rallied twice to hold Atletico de Kolkata 2-2 in an enthralling Indian Super Lague football match in New Delhi on Sunday.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
Masih Saighani fired Chennaiyin into the lead in the 17th minute before two goals in either half by Martin Chaves (43rd, 71st) seemed to have handed all three points to NorthEast United. However, a late equaliser from Lallianzuala Chhangte (90+3rd) ensured the away side took a point from the match.
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