Mohammedan Held By 10-man United SC

Source: AIFF Media Team

Kolkata: Mohammedan Sporting and United Sports Club played out a 1-1 stalemate in a round 23 clash of the Airtel I-League at the Kalyani Stadium in Kalyani on Saturday afternoon.

Penn Orji gave Mohammedan the lead on the stroke of halftime but it was cancelled out almost immediately by Biswajit Biswas. There were no goals in the second half but United SC were reduced to ten men as midfielder Lalkamal Bhowmick was sent off after receiving two yellows.

The result keeps Mohammedan Sporting rooted to the bottom of the table while United SC have four more points but have played an extra game.

Mohammedan dominated possession in the early stages with Luciano Sobrosa also going close with a header from a Taro Hasegawa corner but overall both teams struggled to cope with the hot and humid conditions with the pace of the game being very slow.

The drinks break midway through the first period was necessary and it brought United SC to life as Eric Brown narrowly missed the target after doing well to go past Sobrosa.

The highlight of the first half hour though was the unfortunate collision between United SC keeper Abhijit Das and Mohammedan midfielder Monirul Mondal and both players had to come off with injuries.

There was end-to-end action in the closing stages of the half and the deadlock was broken by Penn, who received a pass from Josimar in the box and somehow got his shot past a number of United SC players and substitute goalkeeper Jayanta Paul.

The purple shirts quickly responded though as Biswajit slotted the ball past Mohammedan keeper Luis Barreto after some fine individual play by Brown.

Mohammedan had a golden opportunity to take the lead early in the second period as Penn broke the offside trap and set up Israil Gurung, who couldn’t hit the target from close range.

United SC were content to defend in numbers and play on the counter attacks but suffered a big blow when Lalkamal was shown red after getting booked for the second time in the game.

Mohammedan coach Sanjoy Sen brought on striker Ashim Biswas to capitalise on the numerical advantage but his side struggled to create chances against a well-organised United SC backline.

At the other end, United SC had chances to win the game with Tapan Maity hitting the woodwork from long range while Adekunle Waheed squandered a great chance after being played clean through on goal by Brown.

Final Score:
United SC 1-1 Mohammedan Sporting Club

East Bengal draws crucial game with 2-2 draw vs Mumbai FC

As the teams gear up for the home run in the closing stages of I league 2013-14 and few contenders still in with realistic chance to win the league East Bengal needed a crucial 3 points in the mid week clash against relegation threatened Mumbai FC.With Bengaluru FC,Pune FC and Sporting Goa all 3 teams losing crucial points in the last matches, East Bengal had to win the match to put pressure on the league leaders.
Coach Armando Colaco played with his limited options with the injury ravaged squad he had at his disposal but both teams played pedestrian football in the first half with series of miss passes and not pushing the ball forward.East Bengal defended deep at times and their midfield play looked choked as Mumbai FC looked more mobile using flanks and good combination play between Alfred and Yakubu resulting in some desperate defending in the East Bengal half.
But their was a change of fortune in second half,right at the hour mark Yakunbu collected a lose ball at the centre and unleashed a deadly 60 yards shot to beat an out of position Abhijit Mondal with a world class long ranger against the run of play.As the home side was stunned coach Armando made the tactical change of the day bringing Sueoka and Dika.With the arrival of these two players East Bengal had more possession and a better link up play was visible with Chidi up front.East Bengal manged to get a free kick at a threatening zone outside Mumbai FC boX and Dika's sho deflected and came back to Sueoka and he finished the second ball with a brilliant overhead bi cycle kick to make it 1-1.
And with a minute added another one with a neat finish in far post to beat the goal keeper from a tight angle to give East Bengal a 2-1 lead within two minutes.As East Bengal looked to close the game and seal all three points, Mumbai FC equalized in 87th minute through Ashutosh Mehta with a insetep curler from the right side of the box much to the disappointment of home fans, as they lost crucial 2 points what looked a game in their pocket.East Bengal looked to miss a leader in their backline to the likes of Uga Opara as they unnecessarily played the ball back and too any and created pressure on their back four,inexperienced Abhishekh Das was found wanting for most part of the match as Khalid Jameel's boys dominated the flank play with their physical game.

Final Score:East Bengal 2-2 Mumbai FC

India finish runners up in AFC Girls Regional Championship

India finish runners up in AFC Girls Regional Championship Posted: 25 Mar 2014 11:34 AM PDT India U-14 Girls National Team narrowly finish second just behind Nepal The Indian U-14 Girls National Team trounced Iran 3-0 to finish Runners-up of the AFC Girls Regional Championship for South and Central on a high at the Baddegana Football Training Centre in Colombo on Tuesday (March 25, 2014). Nepal ensured they finished top of the heap and the winners of the Regional tourney after beating Tajikistan by two goals in the last Group game. They finished with their full quota of 15 points from five matches while second-placed India managed 12 from 5 outings. Goals in both halves from forwards Daya Devi (31) Roja Devi (53) and Techi Amin (56) ensured the inaugural champions a comprehensive win on the back of their 9-0 annihilation of Bhutan in the previous game.

GALATASARY TO UNCOVER BUSINESS OPPORTUINIIES AT SOCCEREX ASIAN FORUM

Ebru Köksal, Galatasaray SK board member will be speaking at the Soccerex Asian Forum. The event is held in partnership with the Asian Football Development Project (ADFP) and will take place on May 13 & 14 at the King Hussein Bin Talal Convention Centre, situated on the banks of The Dead Sea, Jordan. Ebru Köksal A former investment banker for Morgan Stanley in New York, Köksal has had an impressive career within the football industry including her post as General Manager of Galatasaray, General Secretary of the Turkish Football Federation and Executive Board Member of the European Club Association, the first time a woman has joined the board. In a session titled ‘the continent of opportunity’, Ebru, alongside other senior club representatives, will  look at the various business opportunities the Asian market presents to European clubs, including pre-season tours and targeted sponsorships, as well as the different marketing strategies needed to grow a club’s international fan base. Ranked 16th in the Deloitte Football Money League report, Galatasaray are one of the driving forces in world football both on and off the pitch, with Roberto Mancini as Head Coach and global superstars such as Wesley Sneijder and Didier Drogba within the squad. Soccerex CEO Duncan Revie commented: “It is a great pleasure to welcome Ebru and Galatasaray to the Asian Forum. As one of the biggest teams in the world, and a unique geographical location between Europe and Asia, they’re well placed to talk about the different business and marketing approaches needed to succeed in the Asian market. ” The Forum will bring together the leading figures from the world of Asian football as well as other international football experts to discuss the development of the game across Asia. Industry leaders already signed up include FIFA Vice-Presidents HRH Prince Ali Bin Al-Hussein and David Chung, FIFA Executive Committee members Sunil Gulati and Hany Abu Rida, AFC Vice-President Moya Dodd Aand All-India Football Federation General Secretary Kushal Das. The conference agenda will include a review of the opportunities for growth and the challenges facing Asian football.

Information Source:
http://www.chrispd.de/wordpress/2014/03/24/galatasaray-uncover-business-opportunities-soccerex-asian-forum/

East Bengal beats Rangdajeid United 3-1 to keep title hopes alive

In a fiery encounter at Salt Lake Stadium East Bengal beat Rangdajeid United 3-1 as both team battled for turf in the match that had contrasting importance to both teams.East Bengal needed a win to keep their title hopes on while Rangdajeid United needed a win to get some breathing space at the bottom half of relegation threatened zone.
In a hot tempered match as tackles were flowing freely and both teams playing pressing football,East Bengal came on top with a goal from Edeh Chidi by penalty,Vashum from a brilliant individual skill in the box and Lenn chipping the ball over keeper in virtually his first touch of the match.
Rangdajeid United scored their only goal through a Ranty Martins header.East Bengal fielded a uncommon side with Ryuji Soeka paired as striker along with Chidi while Mga was on reserves,but the Japanese md fielder had an unforgettable day as his passes and temper both lost directions and Coach Armando Colaco had to substitute him after his caution yellow card.Goal keeper Abhijit Mondal had a great outing under the bar as he saved a number of scoring opportunities from the threatening Ranti and Kim strike partners but East Bengal defence led by Arnab Mondal stood firm to see through 90 minutes to give East Bengal a valuable three points.

Final Score:East Bengal 3-1 Rangdajeid United

Other Results:

Sporting Club.de Goa 1-3 Mohun Bagan

Shillong Lajong FC 3-0 Bengaluru FC

Churchill Brothers 3-2 Pune FC

Goal feast as India U-14 Girls pummels 8 goals past Tajikistan

Source :AIFF

It’s raining hat-tricks for India U-14 Girls in the AFC U-14 Regional Championship. If it was Suman who netted the first hat-trick of the Championship against hosts Sri Lanka in the inaugural match of the Championship, it was Daya Devi who scored another hat-trick for India as the defending champions notched up a comprehensive 8-1 victory against Tajikistan on Friday (March 21).

Courtesy the victory, India sit pretty at the top of the points table on six points.

However, it was Suman who opened the scoring for India in the 6^th minute at the Baddegana Football Training Centre in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Daya scored her first goal in the 21^st minute with Roja making it 3-0 in the 27^th minute.

Changing over, Amin scored her first of her two goals in the 37^th minute only for Daya to score her second three minutes later. Daya completed her hat-trick in the 56^th minute.

The other two goals for India were scored by Amin (48^th) and Roja 62^nd).

In the other two matches of the day, Nepal beat Sri Lanka 1-0 while Iran drubbed Bhutan 6-0. India next play Nepal on Saturday.  

2nd Division I league Final Phase goes underway in Silchar

Fixtures

Date	Home	Away	Kick-off
March 23, 2014	URO United Sikkim Football Club	Royal Wahingdoh FC	11:00 AM
March 23, 2014	Kalighat Milan Sangha FC	Sangbad Pratidin Bhawanipore Football Club	2:00 PM
March 25, 2014	Hindustan Football Club	URO United Sikkim Football Club	11:00 AM
March 25, 2014	Sangbad Pratidin Bhawanipore Football Club	Royal Wahingdoh FC	2:00 PM
March 27, 2014	URO United Sikkim Football Club	Sangbad Pratidin Bhawanipore Football Club	11:00 AM
March 27, 2014	Hindustan Football Club	Kalighat Milan Sangha FC	2:00 PM
March 29, 2014	Kalighat Milan Sangha FC	URO United Sikkim Football Club	11:00 AM
March 29, 2014	Royal Wahingdoh FC	Hindustan Football Club	2:00 PM
March 31, 2014	Kalighat Milan Sangha FC	Royal Wahingdoh FC	11:00 AM
March 31, 2014	Hindustan Football Club	Sangbad Pratidin Bhawanipore Football Club	2:00 PM
April 3, 2014	Hindustan Football Club	Royal Wahingdoh FC	11:00 AM
April 3, 2014	Sangbad Pratidin Bhawanipore Football Club	URO United Sikkim Football Club	2:00 PM
April 5, 2014	Kalighat Milan Sangha FC	Hindustan Football Club	11:00 AM
April 5, 2014	Royal Wahingdoh FC	URO United Sikkim Football Club	2:00 PM
April 7, 2014	URO United Sikkim Football Club	Hindustan Football Club	11:00 AM
April 7, 2014	Sangbad Pratidin Bhawanipore Football Club	Kalighat Milan Sangha FC	2:00 PM
April 9, 2014	Sangbad Pratidin Bhawanipore Football Club	Hindustan Football Club	11:00 AM
April 9, 2014	Royal Wahingdoh FC	Kalighat Milan Sangha FC	2:00 PM
April 11, 2014	URO United Sikkim Football Club	Kalighat Milan Sangha FC	11:00 AM
April 11, 2014	Royal Wahingdoh FC	Sangbad Pratidin Bhawanipore Football Club	2:00 PM

India breeze past Sri Lanka 7-1 in AFC U-14 GirlsRegional Championship

Riding on Suman Mohapatra’s hat-trick, India’s U-14 Girls began their campaign in style when they brushed aside hosts Sri Lanka U-14 Girls 7-1 in their opening match of the AFC U-14 Regional Championship at the City Football Complex in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Suman scored all of her three goals in the second half. All matches are of 70-minute duration with two halves of 35 minutes each.

India led 3-0 at the interval.

India, the defending champions in the Competition surged into the lead in the 19^th minute when Roja Devi scored. Thereafter, Lifa Gama made it 2-0 in the 28^th minute while Srijana Tamang scored the Team’s third goal two minutes later.

Changing over, the Indians dominated proceedings and the barrage of attacks eventually led to Suman Mohapatra scoring a brace, one each in the 53^rd and the 60^th minutes respectively. Karen Pais netted the sixth in the 69^th minute while Suman completed the rout in added time.

CLINICAL MIZORAM CLINCH 68TH SANTOSH TROPHY IN STYLE

Mizoram 3 (Zico Zoremsanga – 44^th, 61^st, F Lalrinpuia – 90+1)

beat

Railways 0

SILIGURI: A bunch of unheralded diminutive footballers took the Santosh Trophy by storm and maintained their rich brand of fast-paced attacking football in the Final to deservingly win their maiden Nationals crown sweeping aside Railways 3-0 in the Title clash of the 68^th National Championships for the Santosh Trophy here at the floodlit Kanchenjunga Stadium on Sunday (March 9, 2014).

A brace from Zico Zoremsanga either side of halftime, and a second half injury time strike from F Lalrinpuia capped a brilliant tournament for the Northeastern outfit who went from strength to strength as the competition progressed.

Railways – who had not won the Santosh Trophy since 1966 – came closest in the 43th minute when Rajesh S’s close-range header came off the crossbar.

Courtesy their triumph, Mizoram bagged a purse of Rs. 5 lakhs while runners-up Railways got richer by 3 lakhs.

Present on the occasion were All India Football Federation (AIFF) Senior Vice-President Subrata Dutta and Mr. Menla Ethenpa, AIFF Competitions Committee Chairman and Executive Committee Member.

The match started at a good pace with both the outfits looking for an early goal. Railways earned three quick corners to keep the rival defense on their toes while at the other end their goalkeeper Ehtesham Ahmed -- oozing confidence after his penalty heroics in the semifinal -- spread his body wide to keep Lalnunmawia and Lalbiakhlua’s shots at bay.

With Railways missing their first choice centre-backs Vimal Kumar and Rajiv Boro due to suspension, Mizoram looked to take advantage but first-timer Akhil Rajbanshi and makeshift stopper-back Dipankar Das stood firm.

David Larinmuana found Lalnumawia free on the left with a good-looking ball from midfield but the latter was well marked by Dipankar and right-back Y Raju Singh.

Lalbiakhlua then tried to be cheeky minutes into the half hour mark, trying to dink Ahmed from just outside the box on the right flank. But the hero of the previous night had his near-post covered with the attempt also landing onto the roof of the net.

It was end to end stuff with the action mostly concentrated in the final third.

The match’s best chance fell to Railways when striker Rajesh S hit the bar from close. Kisku tried his luck from the rebound but his effort was blocked.

Moments later, Mizoram took the lead. F.Lalrinpuia crossed for Zico inside the box. The striker who has found the back of the net three times already in the tournament trapped the ball and swiveled past his marker to slot home into the far corner with the goalkeeper at full stretch.

It was Mizoram who called the shots after the break. Three minutes into the half, Lalrinpuia unleashed a powerful left-footer which was fisted out by Ahmed but only as far as Lalnunmawia who side-netted his close range effort off the rebound.

But the red shirts who have been the flovour of the 68^th Nationals did not have to wait for long to double their advantage and take a giant stride towards their maiden title.

Zico was in the thick of things again as Mizoram broke on the counter. Lalbiakhlua teed up the goalscorer who did exceptionally well to round the goalkeeper and shoot into an empty net.

The second goal deflated Railways’ spirit and the three-time champions looked to have thrown in the towel with their high-flying counterparts dominating possession.

F Lalrinpuia pinched their opponents’ emotion at the death with a third goal from close in injury time to complete the memorable victory