Football

Punjab FC, riding high on two consecutive victories, will face Hyderabad FC in a midweek clash on Wednesday. A win for Punjab would mark their first three-game winning streak in ISL history.Currently third in the standings with six points, Punjab aims to maintain its momentum and potentially take the top spot. The absence of Slovenian striker Luka Majcen has not hindered Punjab's attacking prowess, with Felip Mrzljak stepping up with assists and youngster Nihal Sudeesh impressing with goals and threatening runs.Norwegian Mushaga Bakenga, who has taken on Majcen's role, is yet to find the back of the net, but coach Panagiotis Dilmperis remains confident in his abilities. "Bakenga is a quality player who's played at the highest level. He needs time to adjust, but I have full faith in him," Dilmperis said.Hyderabad FC, on the other hand, has struggled in its only game so far, losing 0-3 to Bengaluru FC. The absence of talented young striker Joseph Sunny due to a knee injury will further hinder their chances. Abdul Rabeeh will be hoping to make an impact for Hyderabad, who managed only a single win last season."We need to create more scoring opportunities and be clinical. The effort from the boys has been good, but we must improve tactically," head coach Thangboi Singto admitted.Punjab FC will be confident of extending their winning streak, while Hyderabad FC will be desperate for their first points of the season. The match promises to be an exciting battle between two teams with contrasting fortunes.

Bengaluru FC (BFC) will face Hyderabad FC in an Indian Super League (ISL) match at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium on Thursday, aiming to build on their positive start to the season. BFC secured a 1-0 victory over East Bengal in their opening fixture, with Vinith Venkatesh scoring the winning goal.Hyderabad FC, on the other hand, is making its ISL debut and faces a challenging task against BFC. The club has undergone a financial transformation under the ownership of the BC Jindal group, but concerns remain about its on-field performance. Hyderabad FC finished last in the 2023-24 ISL season, recording only one win in 22 matches.Hyderabad FC head coach Thangboi Singto acknowledges the team's need to improve. "We want to build things now, and the next two or three matches will be crucial since a few overseas players are yet to join the team. Once they join us, understand us, and we understand them, we will have a clearer picture of where we want to reach," Singto said.BFC will be looking to improve its head-to-head record against Hyderabad FC, having won only two of their last 10 ISL meetings. The match will be a test of BFC's ability to maintain their momentum and Hyderabad FC's determination to make a strong start to their ISL campaign.

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.

Punjab FC emerged victorious in their final Group C match of the 133rd Durand Cup, defeating Mumbai City FC 3-0 at the Kishore Bharati Stadium on Sunday. The win propelled Punjab FC to the top of the group standings, while Mumbai City FC, fielding a young reserve team, finished without a point.Norwegian forward Mushaga Bakenga was the star of the show for Punjab FC, scoring twice, including a crucial penalty in injury time. Croatian midfielder Filip Mrzljak also found the net for the winning side.The match began with Punjab FC dominating possession and creating several chances. However, Mumbai City FC's young defenders held firm, preventing the Shers from finding the breakthrough.As the first half progressed, Mumbai City FC grew into the game and began to threaten Punjab FC's goal. However, the Shers' defense remained resolute, and the teams went into the break with the score still 0-0.The second half saw Punjab FC continue to press for the opening goal. Their efforts were rewarded in the 62nd minute when Bakenga broke the deadlock with a clinical finish.Mumbai City FC responded well to the setback and pushed for an equalizer. However, Punjab FC's defense held strong, and the Shers doubled their lead in the 90th minute through Mrzljak.In the dying moments of the match, Mumbai City FC conceded a penalty, which Bakenga converted to seal the victory for Punjab FC.The win sees Punjab FC finish their group league engagements tied with Kerala Blasters on seven points. However, Kerala Blasters took the top spot in the final standings for having a superior goal difference. Punjab FC remains the best second-placed team currently in the tournament and will now have to wait for the results of the other matches to confirm its place in the knockouts.

Kerala Blasters FC unleashed their attacking prowess, crushing Mumbai City FC 8-0 in a Group C league match of the 133rd Durand Cup football tournament at the Kishore Bharati Stadium. The Blasters' Moroccan forward Noah Sadaoui and Ghanaian striker Kwame Peprah led the goal-scoring spree, each netting a hat-trick.Sadaoui opened the scoring in the 31st minute, giving Kerala an early advantage. Peprah doubled the lead just seven minutes later, and the Blasters continued to dominate the match. Sadaoui struck again in the 50th minute, extending the lead to 3-0.Peprah scored his second goal in the 38th minute, followed by another in the 45th minute, completing his hat-trick before halftime. The Blasters' relentless attack continued in the second half, with Sadaoui completing his hat-trick in the 76th minute.Mumbai City FC, fielding its reserve team, struggled to contain the Blasters' offensive onslaught. Ishan Pandita, who came on as a late substitute for Peprah, added two quick goals in the 86th and 87th minutes, sealing the massive victory for Kerala.The result marked a resounding triumph for the Blasters, who showcased their attacking capabilities and defensive solidity. Mumbai City FC, on the other hand, will need to regroup and improve their performance in the remaining matches of the tournament.

FC Goa emerged victorious in their Indian Super League encounter against Bengaluru FC, securing a 2-1 win that propelled them to third place in the standings. The Gaurs now boast 36 points from 19 games, while the Blues remain in the lower half of the table.Bengaluru FC drew first blood within two minutes of kickoff, with Suresh Singh Wangjam delivering a sharp through ball to Chingangbam Shivaldo Singh. Shivaldo received the ball with a deft touch and slotted it past Dheeraj Singh to give the Blues an early advantage.FC Goa gradually gained control of the game, with Noah Sadaoui testing the Bengaluru FC defense in the 18th minute. The equalizer came four minutes later, as Brandon Fernandes' corner found Boris Singh at the edge of the box. Singh's shot took a deflection off Odei Onaindia and landed in the back of the net, leaving Gurpreet Singh Sandhu helpless.The second half saw FC Goa gain a numerical advantage when Suresh was sent off for a challenge on Boris in the 47th minute. The Gaurs capitalized on their man advantage, dominating possession and creating numerous scoring opportunities.Their efforts paid off in the 81st minute when Borja Herrera curled in a cross to Boris on the left side of Gurpreet. The former Jamshedpur FC winger made no mistake, netting the winner and securing the crucial three points for his team.FC Goa's victory was a testament to their resilience and determination, while Bengaluru FC will be disappointed with their inability to hold on to their early lead. The result leaves the Blues with work to do if they want to climb the standings in the remaining games of the season.