Football

East Bengal FC's AFC Champions League campaign came to an abrupt end on Wednesday as they succumbed to a 2-3 defeat against Turkmenistan's Altyn Asyr FC in the AFC Champions League Two Preliminary Stage in Kolkata. The Kolkata giants will now compete in the AFC Challenge League Group Stage.Despite a promising start, East Bengal found themselves trailing 2-1 at halftime. Altyn Asyr FC, fielding a team without any foreign players, equalized through Myrat Annayev's volley in the 17th minute. Nurmyradov Selim's free-kick gave the visitors the lead 11 minutes later.East Bengal's hopes of a comeback were further dented when Mihail Titov extended Altyn Asyr FC's lead to 3-1 in the second half. Saul Crespo pulled one back for the hosts in the 59th minute, but it proved to be a mere consolation.East Bengal's early exit from the AFC Champions League is a disappointment for the club and its fans. The Kolkata giants had hoped to make a deep run in the competition, but they were ultimately outplayed by a determined Altyn Asyr FC side.Altyn Asyr FC, on the other hand, will be delighted with their victory. The Turkmen champions showed great resilience and quality to overcome East Bengal's early lead and secure a place in the next round of the AFC Champions League.

Mohun Bagan Super Giant, under the guidance of Spanish head coach Jose Molina, unleashed their attacking prowess in their second outing of the 133rd Durand Cup, crushing the Indian Air Force team by a resounding 6-0 margin at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata. This emphatic victory propelled Mohun Bagan to the top of Group A standings, surpassing their arch-rivals Emami East Bengal.The match marked the first time in the new season that Mohun Bagan fielded a significant portion of its first team. Australian forward Jason Cummings emerged as the star of the show, netting a brace in the 4th and 76th minutes. The other goals came from Anirudh Thapa (65'), Liston Colaco (38'), Tom Aldred (10'), and Greg Stewart (90+1').Mohun Bagan's dominance was evident from the outset, as they controlled possession and created numerous scoring opportunities. Cummings opened the scoring early on, capitalizing on a defensive lapse by the Air Force. Aldred doubled the lead with a powerful header from a corner kick. Colaco extended the advantage before halftime with a clinical finish.In the second half, Mohun Bagan continued to press forward, with Thapa adding to the tally with a well-taken goal. Cummings sealed the victory with his second strike, while Stewart put the icing on the cake in stoppage time.The result sets up an intriguing clash between Mohun Bagan and Emami East Bengal on August 18, which will determine the final group positions and the candidate for the quarterfinals.

The Durand Cup, Asia's oldest football tournament, will return for its 133rd edition from July 27 to August 31, 2023. The tournament will feature 43 matches played in a round-robin league-cum-knockout format across four venues: Kolkata, Kokrajhar, Shillong, and Jamshedpur.The 24 participating teams will be divided into six groups, with the group toppers and two best second-placed sides advancing to the knockout stage. The opening match and the final will be held at the iconic Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (VYBK) in Kolkata.Defending champions Mohun Bagan Super Giant will be looking to retain their title, having won the tournament a record 17 times. Other Indian Super League (ISL) and I-League teams will also be competing, along with invitational teams.The Durand Cup has a rich history, dating back to 1888. It is one of the most prestigious football tournaments in India and has been won by some of the country's top clubs, including East Bengal, Mohun Bagan, and Bengaluru FC.In recent years, the tournament has been expanded to include international teams. Last year, Bangladesh's Bashundhara Kings participated, and this year, more international teams are expected to join the fray.The addition of Jamshedpur and Shillong as host venues is a significant step in the tournament's growth. It will help spread the tournament's reach to new regions and attract a wider audience.The Durand Cup is not just a football tournament; it is a celebration of Indian football. It brings together teams from all over the country and provides a platform for young players to showcase their talent. The tournament is also a major boost for the local economy, generating revenue for hotels, restaurants, and other businesses.

Sunil Chhetri, the legendary captain of the Indian men's football team, is preparing for his final outing with the national side. As he faces the media ahead of India's crucial match against Kuwait, emotions run high.Chhetri, who has scored a record 94 goals in 150 appearances for India, has been a talismanic figure for the team. His retirement announcement 20 days ago sent shockwaves through the footballing community."I have been fighting a small battle inside me all along," Chhetri confessed. "Please do not make it worse by asking again and again. We were done with the subject of retirement when I announced it."The focus now is on the match against Kuwait, which holds immense significance for India's World Cup qualification hopes. "The only thing that I want to focus on is the match against Kuwait," Chhetri emphasized. "We really need to win this game. Once we win it gives us a great chance to go to the third round (of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers), which we have never achieved before."Chhetri believes that a victory against Kuwait will open doors to greater opportunities. "If we win against Kuwait, we almost qualify to the third round," he said. "And once we qualify, we will be up against some top teams (of the continent). I keep telling the boys about this dream every day. Hopefully, everything will happen according to plan. If we qualify, I will be travelling to watch the matches as a fan."The Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata is expected to be packed with passionate fans cheering on the Indian team. Chhetri expressed his gratitude for their unwavering support. "We need to go out there with all our might, because the match is not going to be easy," he said. "It is going to be a big battle, but the good thing is that we are all ready. I am sure Kolkata will give us tremendous support as we fight it out on the ground."As Chhetri prepares to bid farewell to international football, he leaves behind a legacy of inspiration and achievement. His passion, determination, and leadership have been instrumental in shaping the future of Indian football.

Igor Stimac, India's head coach, has expressed his preference for Kolkata as the venue for the crucial World Cup qualifier against Kuwait on June 6. Stimac believes that the city's passionate football atmosphere would provide a significant advantage for the Indian team.The Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata has a capacity of over 66,000, and Stimac is eager to utilize the potential of a large and enthusiastic crowd to boost India's chances of securing a berth in the third round of the 2026 qualifiers. A victory or draw against Kuwait would mark a historic achievement for India, as it would be their first-ever progression to the third round.Stimac's preference for Kolkata aligns with the All India Football Federation's (AIFF) policy of prioritizing the head coach's recommendations for national team matters. AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey has emphasized that Stimac's suggestions will be paramount in decision-making.While Kolkata remains the frontrunner, Hyderabad and a venue in Maharashtra are also in contention to host the match. However, Stimac has indicated that he would prefer to explore new venues only after India qualifies for the third round.In the event that Kolkata is unable to host the game, Stimac has identified Bengaluru as an alternative venue. India recently triumphed in the SAFF Championship in Bengaluru, and Stimac believes that the city's positive football environment would be beneficial for the team.Stimac has also announced a long list of 35 probables for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Afghanistan on March 21 and 26. The list includes several new faces, such as Amey Ranawade, Imran Khan, Isak Vanlalruatfela, and Jay Gupta.The probables list will be pruned after the Indian Super League pauses for the international break on March 14. Stimac has stated that he may consider adding new players to the squad for the June qualifiers, which include an away game against Qatar.Stimac emphasized that the rebuilding process for the Indian team will begin after the 2024 Asian Cup. He believes that it is crucial to maintain continuity with the players who have been part of the squad for the past four years.