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Showing posts with label ISL. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ISL. Show all posts

Saturday 31 December 2016

Happy New Year 2017

Here's Wishing All Sport Lovers a 
Very Happy New Year 2017

There is a ton of excitement in 2017 starting with the Australian Open Tennis Grand Slam, England's ODI series vs India, Australia v Pakistan ODIs, Champions Trophy Cricket In England, F1 season, English Premier League, Tennis Grand Slam season, IPL, ISL, Hockey and loads more....

Can't wait to grab a piece of the action!!

Who Will Win The Cup??  

Friday 9 December 2016

ISL 2016: ATK v Mumbai City FC Semifinal First Leg Promises To Be A Thriller

#ISL2016 #IndianSoccerLeague
#Semifinals

#ATK being the first team to make the semi-finals in all the three editions, former champions know a thing or two about achieving success in the Indian Super League as they today stressed on a winning start in the last-four fixture against Mumbai City FC.

ATK were thrashed 0-3 by Chennaiyin FC last season in the first leg semi-final, something that led to their ouster in 2015.


Atletico de Kolkata's Sameehg Doutie. ISL

Having learnt their lessons the hard way, ATK's South African midfielder Sameehg Doutie said they're focused on a winning start and hoped they would have the advantage to start the semifinal leg at home.

#TableToppers #Mumbai City #FC, on the other hand, qualified for the #Semifinals for the first time in three seasons after they outclassed defending champions #Chennaiyin #FC 2-0.

Their only loss at home this season had come against the same team Mumbai City FC who won via a 79th minute Diego Forlan goal in the league fixture on October 25.

Their record at the adopted Rabindra Sarobar Stadium has been poor with only one win (against Delhi Dynamos FC) from seven matches but Doutie said it did not matter.

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Monday 21 November 2016

ISL 2016: Mumbai City "Blast" Kerala Blasters 5-0

#ISL2016 
#Indian #Soccer #League

#MumbaiCityFC misfiring attack came to life against #KeralaBlasters
On Saturday, facing the best defence in the league, a team that had just registered two wins on the spin while scoring five goals, and coming into the game on the back of a week's rest, Mumbai's misfiring attack — that had just drawn a blank in Goa three days ago — had the odds stacked against them.




Within five minutes of the whistle, the famed Kerala rearguard was breached. It wasn't just a goal that gave Mumbai's attack the confidence which was lacking, but it also set the tone for the rest of the evening. Lining up in a 4-3-3 formation rather than their usual 4-2-3-1, Mumbai's extra man in the middle of the park was telling, right from the outset.

As the #Blasters tried to play their way out, Krisztian #Vadocz won the ball in midfield and immediately found Sunil #Chhetri, who had dropped deep to collect the ball. The Indian captain then found Matias #Defederico on the right side and played it to him first time. 

By then, Diego #Forlan had made a run from the left into the space vacated by Chhetri, and Defederico while shielding the ball from the Blasters players, waited for Forlan to reach the danger area and then floated a brilliant through ball with the outside of his foot. Forlan was away. The Uruguayan used his experience and shrugged off Cedric Hengbart's challenge before firing past Graham Stack.

The attacking trio of Forlan-Chhetri-Defederico was combining and inter-changing, and with Cafu bombing forward occasionally, the hosts were creating menace in the Kerala defence. On 13 minutes, the visitors conceded a cheap free-kick just outside the box in the wake of growing pressure from the home side.

It gave Forlan the chance to give fans in India a glimpse of his real quality. He stepped and dispatched the free kick in the top corner in typical Forlan style and Mumbai were simply over the hill and gone too for away for Kerala, even with just 15 minutes played.

What followed was something Mumbai had been doing pretty well already this season. The 2-0 lead gave them the opportunity to control the game and they did just that. While it meant surrendering a bit of possession to the away side, but it hardly bothered the home side who almost never lost their defensive shape.

The back four were solid and very well protected by Sehnaj and Vadocz, while Forlan and Defederico, playing as inverted wingers, immediately dropped back to make it a five-man midfield every time the hosts appeared to lose control of the ball. It wasn't left to chance and it happened every single time.

With every player performing their duties perfectly, it was only in the 90th minute that the visitors got their first shot on target from open play - a hopeful long range effort from full-back #Josu. It also took them 61 minutes to register their first shot on target, which was a tame effort from CK #Vineeth from a set piece.

Despite having 19 points on the board, Mumbai aren't assured of a place in the semi-finals yet, but with such good defensive discipline been shown by the entire team and with a strong attack that's come alive just at the right moment, they are few flaws in the team at the moment.

#DelhiDynamos might have a few things to say, but Mumbai City FC are now the league's team to beat.

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Mumbai City FC's misfiring attack came to life against Kerala Blasters. Image Courtesy: ISL FB

Friday 11 November 2016

ISL 2016: Forlan Leads Mumbai Beat ATK

#ISL2016 #Indian #Soccer #League

Star Uruguayan striker Diego #Forlan struck a late goal as Mumbai City FC snapped Atletico de Kolkata's unbeaten run with a 1-0 victory and jumped to the top spot in the Indian Super League (#ISL) in Kolkata on Tuesday.

The former Atletico Madrid and Villareal star with more than 100 caps for his country, scored the all-important goal in the 85th minute to help his side record their third win in seven matches.

With Tuesday's win at the Rabindra Sarobar Stadium, Mumbai jumped three places to be at the top spot of ISL table with 11 points from three wins, two losses and two draws, pushing NorthEast United (NEU) to the second position. NorthEast have 10 points from six matches.




This was Forlan's second goal in the tournament after he scored from the spot in Mumbai's 1-0 win against NorthEast at home on 7 October. For ATK, it was their first loss in six matches and they are now on third spot with nine points from two wins, three draws and one loss.

The first half was a very entertaining end-to-end contest, but neither team was successful to get the goal. Mumbai had a wonderful chance to take the lead in the 33rd minute but ATK goalkeeper Debjit Majumder made a vital save as he palmed over a ferocious shot by Sony Norde.

The home side started the second half brightly by introducing Bidyananda Singh, who whipped in some dangerous crosses in. After that, both the teams settled down and the match looked heading for a stalemate.

But then came the game-changing moment in the 85th minute when 37-year-old Forlan put in Norde's deflected shot-cum-cross into the back of the ATK net. This was Forlan's first goal from an open play.

ATK got a chance at the very end when they earned a free kick at the edge of the Mumbai box. Javier Lara took it and his powerful shot was on target but only to see Mumbai keeper Albino Gomes making a diving save.

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Diego Forlan scored in the minute. AFP



Saturday 22 October 2016

ISL 2016: Indian Players Need Better Facilities To Become World Class - FC Goa midfielder Jofre

#ISL2016
#IndianSoccerLeague #Season3

For Indian football to develop, the stress should be on creating an environment where players do not just enjoy the sport but are well aware of their tactical positioning, feels #Spanish #Midfielder #Jofre Mateu Gonzalez.



The #FCGoa #Footballer who robbed Atletico de Kolkata (#ATK) of a win by winning and converting a late #Penalty here on Sunday, said: "You need to have academies where children grow in a #Football environment."

"It's not only about practicing and enjoying the game, but knowing a lot about being part of a team, a lot of skills and #Tactical issues which you must know in your (playing) position," Jofre added.

"It's very good for the #League and for the country. And my mates (Indian players at FC Goa), you can see they are improving every year." Jofre, who has played over 300 games in the second division of the #Spanish #LaLiga, pointed out the importance of off-field activities like nutrition and rest, which are as important as the on-field development.

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File image of Jofre. AFP

Friday 21 October 2016

ISL 2016: Delhi Dynamos Rally From Behind To Hold Mumbai City FC 3-3

#ISL2016
#Indian #Soccer #League #Season 3

#Delhi #Dynamos and #MumbaiCity #FC are at second position but the former are above because of better goal difference.

Delhi Dynamos staged a remarkable comeback to play out a 3-3 draw with Mumbai City FC in a high-scoring encounter of the Indian Super League (#ISL), which witnessed end-to-end football throughout, in New Delhi on Tuesday.

For Mumbai City FC, Hungarian midfielder Krisztian #Vadocz found the net twice, in the 33rd and 38th minutes, and the consistent Sony #Norde added to the tally by finding the back of the net in the 69th minute at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.

Richard Gadze opened the account for the hosts when he found the target in the 51st minute and then substitute Badara #Badji and #Marcelinho scored in the 76th and 82nd minutes respectively.

This was the ongoing #season's highest scoring game. It was an impressive outing by Mumbai too, considering that they were missing a few key players, though their coach Alexandre Borges #Guimaraes will be livid for twice letting slip the advantage.

Mumbai City FC remained on second position with two wins, two draws and a defeat after five appearances, while Delhi Dynamos moved to second place owing to a better #Goal #Difference than #AtleticoDeKolkata.

Dynamos have played four #Matches and recorded a win and three #Draws. This was their third successive draw after starting the #Campaign with a win. The match started on a positive note with both teams looking to #Attack. 

The first breakthrough came when Vadócz, after being fed by playmaker Leonardo Da Costa with a through, sent the ball into the bottom right corner.

Barely five minutes later, it was Vadócz again who emerged as the scorer. Norde took the freekick from just outside the box and Dynamos goalkeeper Roberto Volpato tried to palm it away, but Vadocz headed it off the rebound to make it 2-0 for the visitors.

Mumbai City went into the break with a comfortable two-goal cushion. The visitors were the better of the two sides in the first half. Two goals in the space of six minutes changed the complexion completely and the pressure was certainly on Delhi Dynamos and their coach Gianluca #Zambrotta. Before the breather, the hosts did not really create any great opportunities.

However, they upped their game in the second half and eventually forced Mumbai to settle for a stalemate. The Dynamos came out all guns blazing and first scored through Gadze. Skipper Florent Malouda sent a through to #Marcelo and he, in turn, squared one to #Gadze, who made no mistake while finding the back of the net.

Replay showed that Marcelo could have been offside, but the goal stood. Even as Dynamos tried to come back into the game, Sony Norde dribbled past Souvik Chakraborty and slotted the ball at the far bottom corner.

Mumbai were sitting pretty at that stage with a two-goal cushion again. But there was more to come as Dynamos rallied to find the net through Badji. Malouda played the ball to Badji and he only had #Volpato to beat, and he did that successfully.

As the Mumbai goalkeeper came out rushing to collect the ball, the referee called for penalty, and Marcelinho managed to beat Volpato with a wonderful spot kick. The goalkeeper guessed it correctly as he dived to the right, but the ball evaded his fingertips.

Mumbai made three changes from their 1-0 loss to Blasters. David Lalrinmuana, Boithang Haokip and Cardozo went out and in came Sony Norde, for his first appearance, Pronay Halder and Sena Ralte.

For #Dynamos, goalkeeper Toni Doblas alongside the likes of #Sweepers Lalchhawnkima, Ruben Rocha and holding #Midfielder Marcos Tebar were benched for this game and included in their places were former Aizawl goalkeeper Soram Poirei, David Addy and Ibrahima Niasse.

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isl, isl 2016, delhi vs mumbai, mumbai vs delhi, delhi dynamos vs mumbai city fc, mumbai vs delhi isl, football news, football

Sunday 16 October 2016

ISL 2016 2 week Review - Points Table, Team Standings, Match Results

#ISL2016
#Indian #Soccer #League

#Chennaiyin #FC registered their first win of the Indian Super League 2016 as they defeated #FC #Goa by 2-0 margin. For Chennaiyin FC, Mehrajuddin Wadoo and Hans Mulder scored one goal each to help their side open their account on the ISL 2016  points table. 

It is going to be a long season in the #ISL. We will bring you all the updates and news on the tournament which is expected to grip the imagination of football fans for more than two months. It is fair to say that with only eight teams competing with each other, there is little confusion on who stands where. All teams have a fair idea about their opponents and can eventually set a plan accordingly.

#AtléticoDeKolkata and Chennaiyin FC have been the two winners of the tournament thus far and what will really spice up things will be a new winner and it is fair to say that it is difficult to predict. #KeralaBlasters and #FCGoa have been the two runners-up which means that we have had four different teams in the two seasons as far as the finals go. 

Team Matches Wins Losses Draws Points 
NorthEast United 4 3 1 0 9 
Mumbai City FC 3 2 0 1 7 
Atletico de Kolkata 3 1 0 2 5 
Delhi Dynamos 2 1 0 1 4 
Chennaiyin FC 3 1 1 1 4 
FC Pune City 3 1 2 0 3 
Kerala Blasters 3 0 2 1 1 
FC Goa 3 0 3 0 0

One thing is for sure, predictions are most difficult to make. It will not be different at this point either. Anything other than a win will not shape up the points table and eventually the more results we have, the better it may be.

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Sunday 9 October 2016

ISL 2016: NEUnited FC Off To A Great Start This Season With Two Wins

#ISL2016
#IndianSoccerLeague
#Season3

#NorthEast #United #FC's Indian Super League (#ISL) season has got off to a dream start with two wins from two matches. After beating #Kerala #Blasters in the inaugural match of ISL 3, NorthEast United FC beat #FC #Goa for the first time on Tuesday, and the John Abraham-owned side is already looking a side to watch out for.


NEUFc 380

NorthEast were confident going into the match against Goa, with new coach Nelo Vinganda making one change to his starting XI from the opening day's victory. Nicolas Velez was on the bench and defensive midfielder Wellington Priori replaced him.

The coach's idea was to add more steel to the midfield, with more cover for the back four. The Highlanders chose to go with only one out-and-out striker in Emiliano Alfaro. The hero of the opening match, Katsumi Yusa, started the match on the right flank with Halicharan Narzary pushed on the left side.

Contrary to the rather dull opening game, this match got off to an exciting start with some brilliant end-to-end action. Yusa is proving to be a shrewd and excellent buy for the side and once again, he created brilliant opportunities for his team. He won an early free kick and earned his team the first sniff of goal in the 12th minute.

In the 20th minute, NorthEast got their lead in a rather bizarre fashion. Goa defender Lucio won an aerial duel with Alfaro and passed the ball back to goalkeeper Laxmikant Kattimani who took too many touches as he was being hounded by Alfaro.

Kattimani made a pass that hit the onrushing Alfaro's knee and got deflected into the goal. It was a howler by the Goa #Goalkeeper, who just had to pass the ball to one of his teammates, or just kick it long. Instead, he got pressurised and couldn't take the correct decision. NorthEast got their goal with some luck, but credit should go to Alfaro for keeping up the pressure on the Goa keeper. Goa knit some quick passes and tried to equalise, but when in the 62nd minute, Alfaro scored NorthEast's second goal, the Highlanders were ensured three points.

Starting the match without last season's top scorer Nico Velez, NorthEast still managed to score two goals and win, which is good news for the side, as it means the team would not have to rely on one player for goals. If they can have three or four players sharing the burden of getting the goals, they will find the task of crossing the league stage for the first time much easier.

What also helps is that 'Professor' Vingada has evidently tightened the screws at the back. In both the matches, NorthEast have defended obstinately. #Kerala were poor and didn't attack as much, but #Goa offered more in that department. Still the NorthEast defence managed to stand tall.

Subrata Paul is proving to be another great signing for the club. Considering the side already had the services of TP Rehnesh, it seemed odd that the management went ahead and signed another goalkeeper. Arjuna award winner Paul is massively experienced, and while his signing looked ideal for that reason, there were doubts if he would be able to perform as well as he used to when he was younger.

However, Paul has has brilliant, clearing doubts over his abiities. Ten minutes into the second half, he pulled off a blinder of a save when he thwarted a long-range effort from Trinidad Goncalves. Just a few moments later, he was brought into the act again and managed to save Mandar Rao Desai's shot from inside the box and Trinidad's follow-up as well.

With the 2-0 win, #NorthEast handed #FC #Goa what was just their fifth away loss in the history of the ISL. Granted, Kattimani's poor goalkeeping helped, but credit has to be given to NorthEast for their win.

Yusa and Paul have both shown their worth, but perhaps Vingada is the best signing for NorthEast. The coach's tactics, his managerial style and his transfer business cannot be understated. It's been a busy first week for the Highlanders, and their third match comes in just a couple of days' time. It will be their first away match as they face Mumbai City FC at the Andheri Sports Complex. It is already the best start for the side in the ISL, but if NorthEast can get another win, it will be an incredible start to the season, and their title prospects will brighten significantly.

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Thursday 22 September 2016

ISL 2016: Delhi Dynamos Gear Up And Sign Brazilian Emerson Gomes

#IndianSoccerLeague2016
#ISL2016

#DelhiDynamos #FC on Thursday signed #Brazilian midfielder #EmersonGomes de Moura for the upcoming third season of the Indian Super League (ISL) football tournament.

The 28-year-old joins #Dynamos from Brazilian club #America #FC. He has joined the Dynamos squad in Sweden where they are undergoing their pre-season training. They will play three friendly matches in Sweden.


Representational image. AP

"It is a great opportunity for me to play in a fast growing league, and for that I would like to thank the Delhi Dynamos management for extending this offer to me. People talk a lot about #ISL back in #Brazil, as many big Brazilian players like #RobertoCarlos and others have featured in the previous two seasons. It is a new experience for me, and I am looking forward to this challenge." Moura said in the release.

Head coach #GianlucaZambrotta was pleased with the signing and feels the new acquisition adds to the strength of Delhi Dynamos's #Midfield this season.

"His addition to the side will strengthen the team's midfield. He has played for different clubs across Brazil and I believe the experience that he has gained over the years will be of immense help to the team." Zambrotta said.

"We welcome Gomes to the Delhi Dynamos F.C. family. He is our third Brazilian signing this year and we are really happy to have him on board with the Lions," the club's Chief Technical Officer Vishnu Madhu said.

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