Football

India's SAFF Women's Championship campaign came to an abrupt end in a chaotic semifinal match against Nepal. The match, played in Kathmandu on Sunday, ended in a 2-4 penalty shootout loss for India after a controversial refereeing decision sparked a lengthy protest from the home side.Nepal will now face Bangladesh in the final, who defeated Bhutan 7-1 in the other semifinal.The match at the Dasharath Stadium was marred by drama from the outset. India took the lead in the 62nd minute through Sangita Basfore's stunning strike from outside the box. However, Nepal's celebrations were cut short when the referee disallowed a goal, sparking a furious protest from the home side.The match was then held up for over 70 minutes as Nepal refused to continue, demanding a reversal of the referee's decision. The scene on the pitch descended into chaos, with players and officials from both sides engaging in heated exchanges.After lengthy discussions between the supervising officials and the Nepal side, the match eventually resumed. However, the long delay appeared to have disrupted India's rhythm and concentration. Seconds after the restart, Nepal equalized through Sabitra Bhandari, sending the game into extra time.In the penalty shootout, Nepal converted all four of their attempts, while India could only manage two. Skipper Ashalata Devi and Ranjana Chanu missed their spot-kicks, handing Nepal the victory.The controversy began in the second half when Nepal striker Rekha Poudel was sent off for a second yellow card offense. The Nepal players protested vehemently, leading to a tense atmosphere in the stands.The situation escalated after India's goal, when Nepal attempted to restart the game and score into an empty net. The referee disallowed the goal, prompting the Nepal players and officials to walk off the pitch.It took over an hour for the organizers and supervising officials to resolve the issue and get the match back underway. However, India were unable to regain their composure and ultimately fell to defeat.

India, having secured a semifinal berth, will face Bangladesh in their final Group A match of the SAFF Women's Championship in Kathmandu on Wednesday. For Bangladesh, this is a crucial encounter, as a win would secure them the group title, while a loss would send Pakistan to the semifinals due to a superior goal difference.India's commanding 5-2 victory over Pakistan has propelled them into the semifinals, but their focus now shifts to topping the group and avenging their 2022 defeat to Bangladesh. In that tournament, Bangladesh shocked India by ending their unbeaten streak with a 3-0 win, marking the first time India had lost to their South Asian rivals in SAFF history."We have faced Bangladesh before, and we watched their last game against Pakistan. Our sole focus now is to win this match," said India's skipper Bala Devi. "We have both senior and young players and we are prepared to push for a win."Head coach Santosh Kashyap has meticulously prepared the team for the challenges posed by Bangladesh. "Tomorrow's match will be challenging, as Bangladesh are a strong side with a foreign coach and have solid tactical plans," he said. "Although we have already booked a spot in the semi-finals, we are taking it one game at a time, aiming to win every match."Bangladesh and Pakistan are currently tied on one point each after a 1-1 draw in their group-stage match. Bangladesh will miss the services of coach Golam Rabbani Choton and key players Akhi Khatun and Anai Mogini, but they have introduced fresh talents like Afeida Khandakar, Matsushima Sumaya, and Airin Khatun."We are coming up against an Indian team, who, in my opinion, are probably the best team in the tournament," said Bangladesh head coach Peter Butler. "It's a do or die game. It's a game we don't want to lose."With India already in the semifinals, the match will determine the group winner and the second semifinalist. Bangladesh will need a victory to top the group, while Pakistan will advance if India triumphs. A draw would leave Bangladesh as group runners-up, but they would still need a victory to secure the top spot.

India's U20 football team secured a hard-fought 2-0 victory over hosts Laos in their final Group G match of the AFC U20 Asian Cup 2025 Qualifiers. Despite dominating possession and creating numerous chances, the Blue Colts struggled to find the net in the first half.However, the second half saw a more determined Indian side. In the 69th minute, Gwgwmsar Goyary broke the deadlock with a well-taken finish from inside the box. Substitute Thanglalsoun Gangte sealed the victory with a second goal in the 84th minute.India finished second in the group with six points from three matches, behind Iran (9 points). The top teams of the 10 groups, along with the five best second-place finishers, will qualify for the AFC U20 Asian Cup 2025 in China. India's fate now depends on the results of other groups to determine if they have secured a spot in the final rounds.Despite the victory, India's performance was far from convincing. They squandered a host of chances in the first half and were fortunate not to concede against a spirited Laos side. The Blue Colts will need to improve their finishing and defensive organization if they want to make a deep run in the competition.

India continued their dominant run at the SAFF U17 Championships, securing a 3-0 victory over Maldives in their second Group A match on Tuesday, September 25, 2024. The victory propelled India to the top of the group standings with six points, ensuring their qualification for the semi-finals.The match began with India taking the initiative, and their efforts were rewarded in the 14th minute when Samson Ahongshangbam connected with a cross from Manbhakupar Malngiang to score a spectacular diving header. The goal gave India a 1-0 lead, which they held until halftime.In the second half, India continued to press forward, and their persistence paid off in the 74th minute when substitute Hemneichung Lunkim doubled their lead. Lunkim capitalized on a fumble by Maldives goalkeeper Hassan Nasir to finish decisively.Lunkim proved to be the star of the day, scoring his second goal in the 89th minute with a fine long-ranger that crashed against the net. The goal sealed India's victory and earned Lunkim the man of the match award.India's head coach, Ishfaq Ahmed, made three changes to the starting lineup that played against Bangladesh, bringing in Karish Soram, Rishi Singh, and Malngianng. The changes paid off, as India controlled the game throughout and created numerous scoring opportunities.Maldives, on the other hand, struggled to create chances and were unable to find a way past the Indian defense. The result leaves Maldives with no points after two matches, while India will face the runners-up from Group B in the first semi-final on September 28.

Defending champions India kicked off their SAFF U17 Championship campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Bangladesh in a Group A encounter at the Changlimithang Stadium. Despite dominating the match, India struggled to break down a resolute Bangladesh defense until defender Sumit Sharma's late header in the 90th minute secured the win.Substitute Manbhakupar Malngiang, introduced in the 78th minute, played a pivotal role in the goal. His precise cross from the right flank found a host of Bangladesh defenders out of position, allowing Sharma to head the ball into the net.India's dominance was evident throughout the match, with wing-backs Renin Singh Chingtham and Yaipharemba Chingakham providing constant overlaps and wingers Vishal Yadav and Samson Ahongshangbam posing a constant threat. However, the Bangladesh defense, aided by some luck, managed to keep the Indian attackers at bay for most of the match.In the final 20 minutes, India intensified their attack, with Samson's long-range effort hitting the crossbar and Yaipharemba's header narrowly missing the target. Despite the Bangladesh defense's resilience, Sharma's late goal proved decisive, giving India a crucial three points in the three-team group.While the victory was a positive start for India, they will be disappointed with the narrow margin of victory given their dominance. The team will need to improve their finishing and efficiency in front of goal if they are to retain their title.

India vs Syria: Intercontinental Cup Final PreviewIndia's men's football team will face Syria in the final of the Intercontinental Cup on Monday, September 9, 2024, at the GMC Balayogi Athletic Stadium in Hyderabad. The match will kick off at 7:30 PM IST and will be telecast live on Sports 18.India began the tournament with a goalless draw against Mauritius, while Syria defeated Mauritius 2-0 in their opening match. This means that Syria holds a slight advantage heading into the final, as they only need a draw to claim the trophy.India is aiming for their second consecutive Intercontinental Cup triumph, and third overall. They won the tournament in 2018 and 2022. Syria, on the other hand, has a long history of playing tournaments in India but has never won the title. They lost back-to-back Nehru Cup finals to India in 2007 and 2009 before finishing fourth in 2012.India will be looking to their captain, Sunil Chhetri, to lead them to victory. Chhetri is India's all-time leading goalscorer and has been in impressive form in recent months. He scored a brace in India's 4-1 win over Cambodia in a friendly match in June.Syria will be relying on their experienced midfielder, Omar Khribin. Khribin is a key player for the Syrian national team and has scored over 50 goals for his country.The match is expected to be a close and exciting affair. India will be looking to attack from the start and will be hoping to take advantage of their home crowd. Syria, on the other hand, will be looking to defend deep and hit India on the counterattack.

Hosts India and Syria will face off in a thrilling winner-takes-all clash in the final of the Intercontinental Cup on Monday. India, seeking their second consecutive and third overall Intercontinental Cup triumph, will need to overcome a slight disadvantage against Syria, who require only a draw to claim the trophy.Syria, with a long history of playing tournaments in India, has yet to secure a title on Indian soil. They lost back-to-back Nehru Cup finals to India in 2007 and 2009 and finished fourth in 2012. In their last trip to India for the 2019 Intercontinental Cup, Syria finished third.India, on the other hand, will need to end a winless streak dating back to November last year to deny Syria their first silverware in India. India head coach Manolo Márquez, who celebrated his 56th birthday on Saturday, expressed confidence in his team's ability to win the tournament."It will be a difficult game for both sides. It's a friendly game, but the team who wins the game wins the trophy. We expect to play a good game and win the tournament," said Márquez.However, Márquez emphasized the importance of playing good football, believing that results will follow. "If you ask me, I prefer to play a good game than to win the tournament. I don't want to win it 1-0, scoring with the hand. I want that, in this moment, the team understands our ideas and we play better because finally, it's not about winning or losing."Defender Jay Gupta echoed his coach's sentiments, stating that the team is focused on adapting to Márquez's style of play. "Obviously, it's a game where we have to fight for the cup, but we're just focused on how we adapt to what the coach wants as soon as possible."Syria, under new head coach José Lana, is also in a new era. Lana was pleased with their opening-game display against Mauritius, which they won 2-0. He hopes to continue progressing and improve against India."I think India are a great team. I like the way they play with this coach. They try to move the ball fast. I think it will be a difficult match for us. And our only objective for tomorrow is to be better than our previous match," said Lana.The match promises to be an exciting battle between two teams eager to claim the Intercontinental Cup trophy.

India and Pakistan Cricket Fans Unite to Cheer for England in Euro 2024In a heartwarming display of sportsmanship, India and Pakistan cricket fans put aside their rivalry to come together and support England in the Euro 2024 quarter-final against Switzerland.During the World Championship of Legends match between Yuvraj Singh-led India Champions and Younis Khan-led Pakistan Champions at Edgbaston Cricket Ground in Birmingham, both sets of fans were spotted cheering for England on television screens.A video of the incident, widely shared on social media, shows the two groups of supporters jointly chanting for Gareth Southgate's team and celebrating their victory in the thrilling quarter-final match.The match between England and Switzerland ended in a 1-1 draw after regulation time, forcing the game into extra time and eventually a penalty shootout. England emerged victorious with a 5-3 scoreline, securing their spot in the semi-finals.Meanwhile, in the World Championship of Legends match, Pakistan registered a comfortable 68-run victory over India.This display of unity between India and Pakistan cricket fans highlights the power of sports to transcend boundaries and bring people together. It also serves as a reminder that even in the midst of intense rivalry, there is always room for sportsmanship and camaraderie.

FC Barcelona Shuts Down Academies in India After 14 YearsWorld-renowned football club FC Barcelona has announced the closure of all its academies in India, effective July 1, 2024. The decision comes 14 years after the club established its presence in the country with the aim of training young Indian footballers in the famed "La Masia" style.FC Barcelona has not provided an official reason for the closure. However, the club expressed gratitude to all the families, coaches, local staff, and Conscient Football, its India partner, for their contributions to the project over the years.The Barca Academy India was the largest grassroots football training and development initiative in the country. It operated multiple football training centers in Delhi, Gurugram, Noida, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Pune, offering programs, camps, leagues, tournaments, and exposure trips.The academy aimed to provide a comprehensive training environment for boys and girls between 4 to 17 years of age, focusing on developing their technical skills, tactical understanding, and physical fitness. The program also emphasized the club's values of respect, humility, effort, teamwork, and ambition.Over the years, thousands of young Indian footballers have benefited from the Barca Academy's training. The academy has also been an active participant in the Barca Academy APAC tournament and the Barca Academy World Cup held in Barcelona.The closure of the Barca Academies in India is a significant loss for the country's football development. The academy has played a crucial role in nurturing young talent and promoting the sport at the grassroots level. It remains to be seen how the club's departure will impact the future of football in India.