Bambolim, Nov 28 (Football news) Ashique Kuruniyan turned from a hero to a villain in a matter of four minutes when he found the opposition net but then scored an own goal as Bengaluru FC played out a 1-1 draw against Kerala Blasters in an Indian Super League (ISL) match here on Sunday.

Kuruniyan put Bengaluru ahead in the 84th minute only to do Kerala Blasters a favour four minutes later by scoring an own goal in nightmare of a match for him.

Bengaluru now have four points from three games while the Blasters still remain winless.

Marco Pezzauioli, on the back of the 3-1 defeat at the hands of Odisha, brought in more creativity with Iman Basafa being slotted into midfield. Cleiton Silva returned to lead the line.

Blasters too had a couple of changes. Puitea featured alongside Jeakson Singh in a double-pivot role as Alvaro Vazquez replaced Jorge Pereyra Diaz.

Bengaluru remained on top with superior ball possession early on but Blasters had Jeakson Singh almost create a favourable chance under two minutes itself.

Kuruniyan's pace kept former teammate Harmanjot Singh Khabra on check with Basafa looking settled in dictating play from the centre of the pitch.

However, it was a battle of tactics with the Indian youngsters doing well. Vincy Barretto and Kuruniyan were involved in an intense tussle on the wings.

Bengaluru deployed the idea of stretching the game wide with Sunil Chhetri repeatedly threading the ball onto the flanks for Kuruniyan and Udanta Singh to bomb down the channels.

On the other side, Sahal Abdul Samad showcased some slick moves to beat Roshan Singh and cross inside the box.

But, Kuruniyan was equally adept at defensive duties, clearing off the danger, in the 23rd minute.

There were some clumsy attempts from both sides but neither was able to trouble the opposition goalkeeper too much in the first half.

It was a frantic ten minutes after the change of ends. Cleiton and Udanta combined well to keep Blasters anxious. First, the Brazilian shot wide and then lobbed the ball high over the bar.

Roles were reversed as Cleiton then found Udanta who blazed the ball wide. Surprisingly, Chhetri was substituted off at the hour mark, without having any substantial impact on proceedings.

The last ten minutes defined the script of the game. Kuruniyan found the ball on the edge of the box. After toying with Khabra, he shot on the angle and a spill from Albino Gomes saw the ball go into the net.

Moments later, it was an anti-climax. A cross from the left saw Leskovic pip goalwards but Kuruniyan, instead of clearing, shot right into his own net.

Also Read : Chennaiyin FC eye second straight win, Crivallero to be out of action for 4 weeks

News Source : PTI

Fatorda (Goa), Nov 28 (Football news) A rejuvenated Chennaiyin FC will aim for a second straight victory when they take on a winless Northeast United FC in an Indian Super League match here on Monday.

CFC started their campaign in ISL 2021-22 with a 1-0 win over Hyderabad FC while the Highlanders have lost one and drawn the other in the two games they have played so far.

However, in a blow to the two-time champions, they will be without the services of influential mid-fielder Rafael Crivallero, who will be out of action for four weeks owing to an injury.

"Rafael Crivellaro has incurred a muscle injury. The Brazilian will be out for four weeks while he continues with his rehabilitation with the medical team," the club said on its website.

CFC head coach Bozidar Bandovic will hope Vladimir Koman, who plays a role similar to that of Crivallero, can keep doing the job for the team.

About the absence of Crivallero, the coach said, "Rafa is an important player, a good player. Now that he is injured. we have to look at others who are playing...We need to keep working without him.

"We cannot depend on one player. Koman's role is important. Each and every player has an important role. We will try our best during rehab to get Rafa back as soon as possible." CFC, who have struggled to score in the previous season, have started the new one on a positive note and will hope the team can keep up the good work.

Koman, who scored the all-important goal in the win over Hyderabad, said, "I am always confident. With the first win, I hope that the other players also become more confident. Scoring in the first game is always nice. And when the team wins, there is double satisfaction." NEUFC, who began with a 2-4 hammering at the hands of Bengaluru FC, bounced back to hold Kerala Blasters to a goalless draw in the second match.

Coach Khalid Jamil will be hoping that they can find the net after missing a few opportunities in the game against Blasters.

The forward line which includes Deshorn Brown and Federico Gallego can give any defence a tough time and the coach will hope they can break through against Chennaiyin.

Also, the Highlanders' defence was not at its best against Bengaluru before holding on against Kerala, and they will need to step up against Chennaiyin, who will look to keep the winning run intact.

Match starts at 7.30 PM IST.

Also Read : Gone in 11 minutes: ATK Mohun Bagan crush SC East Bengal in season's first derby

News Source : PTI

Vasco, Nov 27 (Football news) Former champions ATK Mohun Bagan crushed arch-rivals SC East Bengal 3-0 in the much-anticipated season's first derby of the Indian Super League at Tilak Maidan here on Saturday.

In a scintillating display, ATK Mohun Bagan scored through Roy Krishna (12th minute), Manvir Singh (14th) and Liston Colaco (23rd) as they did not allow SCEB the breathing space to make it three out of three in their ISL exchanges.

After a quiet start, Fijian star marksman Krishna connected a perfect cross from Pritam Kotal to net the derby's opening goal.

It was Manvir who began the move with a lovely play from the right flank, releasing an excellent pass to Kotal on the overlap.

One look is all it took for the skipper to pick out a rather unmarked Krishna to finish with aplomb.

Singh was quick to double the strike with a thunderbolt strike within two minutes.

Showing superb play in the midfield, the Mariners began the move with a clinical pass from Joni Kauko.

Singh collected the ball from inside the box and hit near the post, the ball whistling past Arindam Bhattacharja.

Colaco capitalised on a goalkeeping bloomer from Bhattacharja to make it 3-0.

Bhattacharja came off his line to collect the ball at the edge of the box on the left side but only to escape the ball.

Colaco was quick to get hold of it and had a free run to move ahead before tapping the ball home.

Showing relentless attack, the Mariners nearly made it 4-0 when Kotal swung in a lovely cross inside the box and Kauko did well to beat his marker only to put it away.

In the 38th minute, the class of Hugo Boumous was in full display when he sent a perfect cross but Kauko once again missed it by a matter of one yard.

Having lost out in both the legs of the ISL derby last season, the red-and-gold however began with a lot of positive intent in a 4-3-3 formation.

The Manolo Diaz's side had the early possession and pressed hard in the intial minutes as ATK Mohun Bagan played a catch-up game, while SCEB won the first corner of the match.

Both the backlines had a busy time in the middle early on as ATKMB and SCEB forwards kept pressing hard.

East Bengal's Lalrinliana Hnamte made a nasty challenge on Lenny Rodrigues early in the seventh minute but only to be escaped with a yellow.

Antonio Lopez Habas's side with a 4-3-3 formation on the other hand opted for a wait-and-watch strategy and posed occasional questions to the SCEB defence.

Slowly getting into the groove, ATK Mohun Bagan had their first shot on target from none other than their talismanic Krishna who had a go with a powerful rightfooter in the ninth minute.

But Krishna's former teammate Bhattacharja was right on the job, chesting the ball, while Tomislav Mrcela cleared it from the danger zone.

Three minutes later, Krishna set the ball rolling and there was no looking back, burying the game in just half an hour.

Also Read : Valskis shines with a double as Jamshedpur sink Goa

News Source : PTI

Bambolim, Nov 26 (Football News) Coming on the back of a draw against SC East Bengal, Jamshedpur FC took the early initiative of jumping on top of the table after dominating FC Goa for a 3-1 win in an Indian Super League (ISL) match here on Saturday.

Nerijus Valskis (51', 61') was the hero of the match as he remained one shy of a perfect hat-trick, managing to first drive the ball with his left foot and then score via a header.

Jordan Murray (80') piled the third right after coming off the bench. Airan Cabrera though denied the Men of Steel a clean sheet with a neat finish to register a goal in the 86th minute.

Juan Ferrando rung in the changes after a heavy opening weekend defeat. Jorge Ortiz was brought in as Devendra Murgaonkar led the line. Airam Cabrera was relegated to the bench.

Reliance Foundation Young Champs Academy graduate Muhammed Nemil, who had recovered from his injury, was included in the matchday squad for the very first time.

Fresh from winning the Scottish Premiership with Rangers under Steven Gerrard, Greg Stewart made his first start on Indian soil. Komal Thatal found a place on the wing as Eli Sabia was dropped.

Thatal was rather brilliant after kick-off. The Sikkim-born first found Jitendra inside the box with some help from Stewart.

While Goa enjoyed ball possession, Jamshedpur had the better chances through set pieces. Playing in a flat 4-4-2, Jamshedpur ensured that Goa could not find empty spaces to launch pressing attacks.

With five minutes to go in the first half, Len Doungel failed to punish his former side. The winger was played through after a mispass. He first shot onto Dheeraj and subsequently skied the rebound.

Valskis too tried his luck but Dheeraj caught the ball after Glan Martins lost possession of the ball in midfield.

Right after the break, FC Goa threatened Jamshedpur with a freekick but Rehenesh kept it at bay as Alberto Noguera was denied.

At the other end, Valskis made his long-ranger count and snapped his 10-game goalless run with a delectable left-footed strike to break the deadlock.

With the monkey off the back, Valskis doubled his tally in under ten minutes. Greg Stewart's curling freekick was met by the Lithuanian, who rose the highest inside the box and nodded home.

Jordan Murray barely was on the pitch when he added the third for the Red Miners, with his first touch in the game.

Stewart proved to be a menace with his quality humbling the FC Goa midfield. While Ferrando kept on refreshing the legs on the pitch, there was no real attempt at finding a breakthrough as the Gaurs reeled off early season blues.

While they did score a solitary goal, the match was nothing but a complete dominance by Jamshedpur over FC Goa. 

Also Read : ISL: Mumbai City test awaits Hyderabad FC

News Source : PTI

Fatorda, Nov 26 (Football News) After losing their tournament opener, Hyderabad FC will have their task cut out when they run into defending champions Mumbai City FC in the Indian Super League (ISL) here on Saturday.

The game will kick off at 9:30 pm, the first time in the tournament's seven-year existence.

Mumbai are fresh from a comfortable victory over FC Goa, as star striker Igor Angulo started off his campaign with a brace. New signing Ygor Catatau was also on the scoresheet while Ahmed Jahouh had a pretty strong outing as well.

HFC head coach Manolo Marquez believes that it will not be an easy game for his side.

"We want to win, of course we can win; but we know the quality of the opponents. Mumbai City know how to manage situations in games and are strong in set-pieces and open play as well," he said.

"They want to keep the ball and so do we. So, I am sure it will be a close contest at Fatorda tomorrow," he added.

Hyderabad FC were dominant for most of the night against Chennaiyin FC in their first game of the season but not finishing their chances cost them all three points.

One mistake was all it took for the Marina Machans to run away with a win, leaving Hyderabad playing catchup in the league table early in the season.

"It is usually better to start the season with a win and many agree that we did not deserve to lose that game. This is football and we now play against a strong team next," said Manolo.

"But we have chances to beat the strongest teams in the league and we will give our best in this game," he added.

Mumbai City will be without Vignesh Dakshinamurthy for the game while Manolo revealed that his team will miss Halicharan Narzary following the knock he picked up on Tuesday.

Hyderabad FC are yet to register a win in four outings against the Islanders but early in the season, there is not too much to separate the two sides.

"These statistics are not really important tomorrow. They have a strong squad and we know it will be a difficult game for us," said the HFC head coach. 

Also Read : Underdogs SC East Bengal hope to set record straight against ATK Mohun Bagan

News Source : PTI

Vasco (Goa), Nov 26 (Football News) A revamped SC East Bengal would look to set the record straight against favourites ATK Mohun Bagan in the Indian Super League season's first derby here on Saturday.

The red-and-gold brigade suffered defeats to their arch-rivals in both the matches last season, which was more to do with their troubled build-up and a last-minute entry to ISL.

Even as uncertainty surrounded East Bengal over their differences with their investors Shree Cement Ltd, the team under their new Spanish manager Manolo Diaz has looked better organised and secured a spirited 1-1 draw against Jamshedpur FC in their ISL opener.

Croatian central defender Franjo Prce drew first blood for SCEB early in the 19th minute but they could not hold on to their lead, conceding in first-half injury time to miss out on three points.

In contrast, it had taken five matches for the Robbie Fowler-coached SCEB to score their first goal of the season. The new gaffer would hope the likes of Prce, Antonio Perosevic, Bikash Jairu and Arindam Bhattacharya step up against their traditional rivals.

The draw in their opening match of this season stretched SCEB's winless run to five matches with their last victory coming against Jamshedpur FC on February 7 this year, in the last edition of the ISL.

The red-and-gold last won the grudge match on January 27, 2019 by 2-0 margin when both the teams were playing in the I-League. Diaz will have his task cut out against a formidable and well-set ATK Mohun Bagan.

"The players need to show their class (in the Kolkata derby) and build a structure. ATK Mohun Bagan is a very good team with experience and SC East Bengal is growing and at the time we need to improve the level of the players," the Spaniard said.

That the high-octane clash is scheduled early in the second round would mean that SCEB would be under less pressure and would look to express themselves fully.

With former ATK Mohun Bagan goalkeeper Arindam Bhattacharya now at the helm of SCEB as the captain, the team would look forward to the experienced pro.

"All the players look focused and know what this match means for the fans. We want to win it for them," Prce said.

"The Indian players in our squad keep talking about the importance of this match so I know the significance. It will be a tough battle, but we are ready for it," Prce said.

The former Lazio central defender will have the all-important task of thwarting the dangerous ATKMB forward lineup with Fijian star marksman Roy Krishna as his new partner and Hugo Boumous posing the biggest threats.

"We are playing against ATK Mohun Bagan rather than only against (Roy) Krishna and Hugo (Boumous). Yes, they are good players who can score goals but they need the whole squad to help them.

"So we're making plans to stop the whole team instead of only concentrating on Hugo and Krishna.

"For me, the whole squad of ATK Mohun Bagan is a threat. One or two players can’t win you a match, the team has to perform well collectively to win," said the most successful ISL coach.

Roy Krishna scored in both the legs of the Kolkata derby last season and he would look to start from where he had left.

Krishna has already opened his account and scored from the penalty, while Boumous scored a brace in their 4-2 win over Kerala Blasters.

French midfielder Boumous, who was acquired from defending champions Mumbai City FC, has been one of the mega signings this season.

Fast and tactically superior, the Frenchman, who won the Golden Ball award in the 2019-20 season while playing for FC Goa, is known for creating attacks as well as counterattacks.

He has provided the highest number of assists in the history of ISL -- 24 in 56 matches -- and is one of the best foreign players to have ever played in the league.

Kick-off: 7.30pm IST. 

Also Read : Manisha scored dream goal after battling multiple odds

News Source : PTI

Fatorda, Nov 25 (Football News) NorthEast United FC and Kerala Blasters FC shared the spoils after playing out a goalless draw at the Hero Indian Super League (ISL) here on Thursday.

Ivan Vukomanovic handed young Vincy Barretto an ISL debut on the right wing, while Enes Sipovic made his debut in yellow at the heart of defence.

NorthEast United, also lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, dropped goal-scorer from the last game, Mathias Coureur and opted for 24-year-old Australian centre-back Patrick Flottmann.

While neither side could carve out clear-cut chances in the opening exchanges, NorthEast did look threatening a couple of times.

VP Suhair was the architect of Deshorn Brown and Khassa Camara getting half-chances to convert. The latter did slice a couple over the net from distance.

However, the highlight remained a right-footed free-kick from Hernan Santana that went inches above after Enes Sipovic had brought down Deshorn on the run.

At the half-hour mark, Blasters captain Jessel Carneiro swung in a cross that ultimately found Adrian Luna. His chip over the defensive line had Jorge Diaz almost head in the opener of the night.

Both teams remained compact in the first period as both sets of strikers found it incredibly tough to get going in the opposition half.

Five minutes into the second half, Sahal Abdul Samad missed a golden opportunity. Vincy blazed through the pitch after winning a second ball. He squared it into the box but with only the keeper to beat, Sahal grazed it wide.

Vincy kept trying hard to help his forwards but playmaker Adrian Luna was not clinical enough in the box. Both managers switched personnel with Alvaro Vazquez and Coureur arriving into the game for Blasters and NorthEast respectively.

In a change of formation, Sahal was taken off for wing-back Nishu Kumar, returning after being sidelined for up to 10 months through injury for the final quarter hour.

Kerala had their best chance of the night towards the final minutes, courtesy a brilliant pass by Nishu but teammate Alvaro Vazquez could not finish a rather easy header thanks to a spectacular save by NEUFC goalkeeper Subhasish Roy Chowdhury.

Both teams cancelled each other out, visibly frustrating both Jamil and Vukomanovic in an intense battle of tactics.

Blasters face arch-rivals Bengaluru next, while NorthEast meet Chennaiyin next week. 

Also Read : HFC reserve side gears up for IFA Shield debut

News Source : PTI

Bambolim, Nov 25 (Football news) Smarting from a 0-3 drubbing in their season opener, FC Goa will hope to get their campaign back on track when they face Jamshedpur FC in the Indian Super League here on Friday.

The loss against Mumbai City FC on Monday meant FC Goa's league-record 15-match unbeaten streak came to a crashing halt.

It was a bitter pill to swallow for head coach Juan Ferrando, his wards and also the fans.

Friday, though, presents an opportunity for the Gaurs to redeem themselves as they clash against Jamshedpur FC in a match that will see both teams seeking their first win.

Speaking to the media ahead of the game, Ferrando shared his thoughts on the performance in the last match and the team's plans for the future.

The season opener saw Ferrando name a fairly inexperienced line-up at the back. Leander D'Cunha and Sanson Pereira made their second ISL starts while Papuia made his league debut.

While the trust might not be fully vindicated, Ferrando preached patience when it comes to the youngsters.

"To be honest, I trust Leander, I trust Papuia and I have trust in Sanson. Of course, they don't have a lot of experience, but they can only get that experience when you play," said Ferrando.

"Of course we lost, and I don't want to give an excuse for that. You can say that my plan was not a success, but I trust these players. I want that if FC Goa needs these players, they are ready to deliver." "I understand the talk about the lack of experience. But for me, as head coach, my most important job is to help them. They are our future. Of course their performances were not good. We have to do more work and then give them their chances." The loss in the season-opener was only the fifth time since the beginning of the 2017/18 season that Goa have gone down by a three-goal margin.

Ferrando pointed out where he felt the team lacked.

"In transitions when we lose the ball, it's important to be more compact between the lines.

"We need to control the spaces -- when we are in attack or in build-up because if we lose the ball it's very important that we press immediately because the opponent has a lot of space," added Ferrando.

On the other hand, after a 1-1 draw against SC East Bengal on Sunday, Jamshedpur FC too will look to register their first win of the season, at Athletic Stadium in Bambolim, Goa.

The Red Miners have never made the cut for the play-offs since making their debut in the ISL.

Also Read : Indian Super League partners with OneFootball to expand its global footprint

News Source : PTI

Mumbai, Nov 25 (Football news) Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL) on Thursday announced a partnership with German football media company OneFootball to broadcast the Indian Super League to over 200 countries across the globe.

Starting season 2021-22, fans will be able to catch the action of India's premier football league with live matches and highlights being made available, free-to-air, on the OneFootball platform, accessed by upwards of 100 million monthly active users internationally.

All live and on-demand match action will be available on smartphone and tablet via the OneFootball App (iOS/Android, incl. Apple AirPlay and Google Chromecast) as well as on desktop via the OneFootball Website.

An ISL spokesperson said, "We are pleased to partner with OneFootball bringing another power-packed season of Hero ISL to fans worldwide. Hero Indian Super League has consistently engaged with the young audience, creating an intrigued base of fans across the globe." "Through our partnership with OneFootball, ISL will be able to continue its endeavour to appeal to the youth and globalise Indian football." Nikolaus von Doetinchem, VP OTT & Media Rights OneFootball said: "The Hero Indian Super League is a young and rapidly growing competition. OneFootball will be the place for Indian football fans around the world to watch their teams from back home and for a larger international audience to discover ISL for the first time.

"At OneFootball we are committed to bringing fans closer to the action than ever before and with the ISL we have another amazing competition for football fans to experience."

Also Read : Odisha FC beat Bengaluru FC 3-1 in historic win

News Source : PTI

Vasco, Nov 24 (Football news) Two early goals in either half and a clean late strike ensured Odisha FC register a comfortable 3-1 win over Bengaluru FC in their Indian Super League (ISL) match here on Wednesday.

This was Odisha FC's first win over Bengaluru FC in the ISL.

It was Javi Hernandez (3rd, 51st minute) who led the charge for Odisha with a brace. While he rode on some luck for his first goal, the second was nothing short of breathtaking from just outside the box.

Alan Costa (21st) scored one for Bengaluru as Sunil Chhetri failed to convert a penalty kick.

Aridai Suarez (90+4) sealed the deal for Odisha with a sublime goal, adding more sheen to the win.

Bengaluru left Cleiton Silva on the bench while young Roshan Singh was given a run out at right back. Odisha lined up in a 4-3-3 formation with Kiko Ramirez's Spanish influence evident.

It was a horrible start for India goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, who ventured out of his box in an attempt to clear a long punt from his counterpart Kamaljit Singh.

A comedy of errors ensued as his mistimed clearance fell right for Javi Hernandez who lobbed the ball over the keeper and defenders into the net for Odisha to draw the first blood.

Shell-shocked, Bengaluru were still picking up the pieces after the opener when Jonathas, Odisha's high-profile signing in the summer, found Nandhakumar Sekar with a one-two but the latter squandered the opportunity with a tame shot in the 12th minute.

Odisha captain Hector Rodas had nodded the ball out for a corner kick which Roshan swung in from his left foot. Brazilian defender Alan Costa made use of his towering physique to rise high and head the ball into the net for the equaliser.

Bengaluru looked comfortable after that goal as the Odisha defence, led by Rodas, was tested on multiple occasions before half time but remained unscathed.

Five minutes into the second half, Jonathas was brought down by Udanta Singh on the edge of the box. Javi's left foot freekick left the entire Bengaluru wall for dead, as the Bhubaneswar-based side restored the lead.

Cleiton Silva was called upon and won a penalty at the hour mark. Chhetri stepped up only to be denied by the keeper but the follow-through, which was netted by Cleiton, was disallowed as he encroached the box before the shot was taken.

Bengaluru kept on pressing for an equaliser but that was not to be. Striker Prince Ibarra sliced a cross from Alan Costa over the bar as Chhetri struggled to mark his presence in the Odisha box.

It was then Spanish Aridai Suarez who piled on more misery on the Blues in the final minutes of the match with clinical strides and a deft touch to find the back of the net to seal the match for Odisha FC.

Also Read : ISL: NEUFC, Kerala Blasters eye first points

News Source : PTI

Margao, Nov 24 (Football news) Coming off big defeats, both NorthEast United FC and Kerala Blasters would look to open their account and get their campaign up and running when they face off in the Indian Super League (ISL) here on Thursday.

While the Khalid Jamil-coached NorthEast United conceded four goals against an experienced Bengaluru FC, Kerala Blasters too lost by a 2-4 margin to last edition's runners-up ATK Mohun Bagan in their opener.

Kerala Blasters' pre-season performances provided hope but they found the going too tough against a strong and thoroughly professional ATK Mohun Bagan.

At the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here on Thursday, the southerners will get another opportunity to impress and open their account in this edition of the league.

It is not going to be easy though against the Highlanders who fought hard against a fancied Bengaluru FC outfit.

The team from the eastern part of the country came back twice to level things in the first half, but the lack of concentration and inexperience at the back cost them dear, as they leaked four goals.

Jamil will be looking to get his tactics and match-ups right, as NorthEast United look to bounce back with a positive result against the Blasters.

The Blasters too showed a lack of composure and proper defensive abilities in their tournament opener. The Kochi-based team didn't start off well, but produced a mature performance in the second half.

However, that was not enough for the Blasters to upstage ATK Mohun Bagan, and head coach Ivan Vukomanović will be expecting a lot more from his wards who they go up against the Highladers.

This will be the 15th meeting between the two sides in eight seasons. Of the last 14 matches, Kerala Blasters have won five, NorthEast United have emerged victorious on four occasions while five matches have ended in a draw.

The last time these two teams came up against each other, Jamil's side ran out 2-0 winners.

Also Read : Chennaiyin stand tall against Hyderabad to start off their campaign with a win

News Source : PTI

Bambolim, Nov 23 (Football news) Chennaiyin FC pulled off a hard fought 1-0 win over Hyderabad FC in their opening match of the Indian Super League here on Tuesday.

Vlagyimir Koman (66th minute) scored from the spot to give Chennaiyin a crucial lead, eventually sealing all three points as Hyderabad were left to rue their wastefulness in front of goal, especially in the first half.

Hyderabad, whose average age of the Indian players in the lineup was just 24, was dealt a major blow early on with Halicharan Narzary limping off in under 10 minutes.

That did not deter their resolve to stamp their impression as former ATK Mohun Bagan man Edu Garcia's shot was cleared away in a hurry but Bartholomew Ogbeche could not follow through.

Chennaiyin had goalkeeper Vishal Kaith to thank for keeping the former champions in the game. The Himachal Pradesh-born was tested a few times but he emerged unscathed.

Hyderabad were in fact wasteful in the opportunities the brittle Chennaiyin defence gave them. Ogbeche missed more than handy chances but substitute Nikhil Poojary's work-rate near the box only gained him new admirers.

Kyrgyz playmaker Mirlan Murzaev almost gave Chennaiyin a glimmer of hope late in the first half, but his header went off-target from a darting cross in by Reagan Singh.

Chennaiyin carried over the momentum post the break. Mirlan Murzaev and Lallianzuala Chhangte proved hard to contain. Chhangte arguably had the best chance of the night when he beat Akash Mishra on the run, cut in and shot hard, only to be tipped off by Kaith.

New captain Anirudh Thapa then made it count for his side winning a penalty as he was brought down by Hitesh Sharma inside the box.

Former AS Monaco man Vlagyimir Koman stepped up to deliver a powerful piledriver that gave goalkeeper Laxmikant Kattimani no chance, breaking the deadlock with little over 20 minutes to play.

Chennaiyin led against the run of play, leaving Manolo Marquez to make four changes at a go. Joel Chianese, Javi Siverio, Sahil Tavora and young striker Rohit Danu were introduced in the 77th minute.

However, there wasn't to be another goal in the game.

Also Read : Bengaluru FC look to build on opening match success with win over Odisha

News Source : PTI

Vasco, Nov 23 (Football news) Former champions Bengaluru FC would look to build a winning momentum after their opening match victory when they face Odisha FC in their second Indian Super League fixture here on Wednesday.

The Sunil Chhetri-led side have faced Odisha eight times in the ISL, winning five, losing two and drawing one, and they will once again start favourites at the Tilak Maidan.

Fresh from the 4-2 win over NorthEast United in their campaign opener, the Blues would look to build on the positives and noth up their second consecutive win.

"We need to focus on our game, take the good things from the previous game, and try to improve ourselves and do better. We have three points on the board and we need to try and build on that," Bengaluru head coach Marco Pezzaiuoli said at the pre-match conference.

He admitted his team did not do well in the midfield and that's why Chhetri was relatively quiet in the previous match.

For Odisha FC head coach Kiko Ramirez said he knew Bengaluru's impressive track record in the ISL but his team has also prepared well.

"They have quality attackers, they play good football and have proven themselves in the ISL. We know It’s going to be a difficult game against Bengaluru as they won their first game, but we are ready," he said.

Asked about specific way to counter the Bengaluru players, Ramirez said, "The team has to give 100% concentration in the game, not make any mistakes. We have to stay focused from the beginning and implement what we have practised in the week.

"I will put four of my most competitive foreign players on the pitch. They are important, but the seven Indian players are more important as they are going to play every match. So, our focus is also on the Indian players whom we aim to develop in this season."

Also Read : Mumbai City begin title defence in style with win against FC Goa

News Source : PTI

Margao, Nov 22 (Football news) Spanish striker Igor Angulo struck twice in the space of three minutes as Mumbai City FC began their Indian Super League title defence in style with 3-0 win against FC Goa here on Monday.

Angulo continued from where he left last season with a fine outing, though against his former side, as he scored in the 33rd (penalty) and 36 minutes to help Mumbai City FC begin their campaign on a winning note.

Brazilian Ygor Catatau (76th) then celebrated his ISL debut within minutes of stepping onto the pitch, closing the match for the City Football Group-owned club in their season opener.

Des Buckingham, on his first match as head coach on Indian soil, showed off Mumbai City's summer signings in the starting XI.

Apuia, Mohammad Nawaz, Rahul Bheke, and Cassio Gabriel all started alongside Angulo. FC Goa's replacement for Angulo, Airam Cabrera, led the line for the Gaurs. Brandon Fernandes remained unavailable for selection due to injury.

There was drama early on with Leander D'Cunha let off for what looked like a possible foul inside the box for tripping down Vignesh Dakshinamurthy. The Mumbai City wing-back had to be subbed off in pain.

The game opened up after the half-hour cooling break. Gabriel received a cross with Ivan Gonzalez looking to clear. He brought himself between the ball and the FC Goa player and Ivan's mistimed tackle led to a penalty kick.

Angulo converted the spot-kick with glee, beating old teammate Dheeraj Singh, who otherwise had a decent night.

Minutes later, it was time for Raynier Fernandes to turn provider. A sharp turn in midfield led to the ball played through for Angulo. The Spaniard took a deft touch, rushed past the defenders, and shot fiercely as the ball went into the net past Dheeraj's right.

Mumbai City could have had a third before the break only for Raynier's shot to be stopped by the crossbar. Big-money signing Apuia controlled the midfield with ease.

FC Goa head coach Juan Ferrando turned to his bench as he got in Nongdamba Naorem in the second half. Captain Edu Bedia almost halved the deficit with a half volley that flew over the bar.

Cassio Gabriel was the star of the second half with his industrious invasions inside FC Goa's box. Ygor Catatau then came off the bench to nod in a free-kick sent in by Ahmed Jahouh, sealing the deal.

Also Read : ISL: Chennaiyin FC face Hyderabad FC in opening test

News Source : PTI

Bambolim (Goa), Nov 22 (Football news) Two-time winners Chennaiyin FC will begin the 2021-22 Indian Super League campaign against Hyderabad FC here on Tuesday with a new coach, new captain and renewed hopes of a turnaround after a poor run in the previous season.

The team has undergone a revamp. Apart from new coach Bozidar Bandovic, CFC have also signed five new foreign players along with some promising Indian talent and will expect to start on a strong note after having secured only three wins in the 2020-21 season.

However, it is easier said than done with a confident Hyderabad side expected to be a well prepared and tough opponent.

In an early jolt for Chennaiyin, they will be without the services of the influential midfielder Rafael Crivallero as he had 'pain' and is being monitored by the team's medical staff.

"He has pain. The medical staff are monitoring him and we are trying to find what the problem is. He trained a couple of days ago, but had to walk off. Germanpreet Singh is out as well for tomorrow's game," CFC head coach Bandovic said at a virtual media interaction ahead of the opener.

He further said the team was well prepared and that he was not looking too far ahead, preferring to take it game by game.

"I would go game by game. First game first. We will like to go game by game and try to be in the top four," the coach said when asked about the team's strategy.

The club's assistant coach Syed Sabir Pasha had said during a recent interaction that they were confident of an improved show and felt the squad appeared to be settled heading into the tournament.

New captain Anirudh Thapa has been a key member of the CFC squad for a few years now and will look to lead from the front, hoping the new foreign recruits and the Indian stars pull their weight as the team aims to bounce back.

Chennaiyin have signed a handful of foreign players including Polish striker Lukasz Gikiewicz, who is expected to sharpen the attack and bring in goals, which the team missed in the season gone by.

Hyderabad FC, on the other hand, will aim to break into the play-offs after having missed out narrowly last time. Coach Manuel Márquez Roca will be hoping the team continues the good run and the signing of Bartholomew Ogbeche from Mumbai City FC gives the forward line more teeth.

Ogbeche, Edu Garcia and Juanan will be the key players for the team and their performance will have a bearing on the fortunes in a long season.

Marquez's men got the better of CFC in both the matches last season and Ogbeche & Co will look to cash in on a rather weak opposition defence.

Match starts at 7.30 PM.

Also Read : Battle of grit as SC East Bengal and Jamshedpur share spoils

News Source : PTI