Football

Virat Kohli, the legendary Indian cricketer, has extended his sporting prowess beyond the cricket field by co-owning FC Goa, a prominent team in the Indian Super League (ISL). Kohli's passion for football has driven his involvement in the club, reflecting his desire to contribute to the growth of sports in India.FC Goa was one of the founding franchises of the ISL, established in 2014 to revolutionize Indian football. Kohli, a fervent football enthusiast, recognized the opportunity to support the development of the sport and became a co-owner of the Goa-based club. His involvement was not merely financial but stemmed from a genuine love for the game.Kohli has often shared his childhood memories of playing football, emphasizing its role in his fitness regimen. He has expressed that if not for cricket, he might have pursued football professionally. His association with FC Goa provided a platform to channel this passion into action, supporting a team in a region with a rich footballing heritage.Kohli's presence has significantly boosted the visibility of the ISL and FC Goa. His immense fan following in India and abroad has drawn attention to the league, contributing to its growth and popularity. As one of the most recognizable names in Indian sports, Kohli's involvement has added credibility and legitimacy to the ISL, which was still in its early stages when FC Goa was launched.While Kohli acknowledges that he is still learning the intricacies of football ownership, his influence extends beyond the financial aspect. He actively supports youth development programs, grassroots initiatives, and advocates for creating a sports culture in India. FC Goa, under Kohli and the other owners, has become one of the most competitive teams in the league, known for its attacking style and nurturing local talent.For Kohli, owning a football team aligns with his broader vision of promoting sports in India. He believes that football has immense potential for growth, and his involvement with FC Goa is a step towards building a culture where football is as popular as cricket. His journey with FC Goa highlights his commitment to contributing to the rise of football in India while balancing his own legendary cricket career.

Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur embark on their Europa League campaigns this week, seeking solace from disappointing Premier League starts.Erik ten Hag's United have struggled to improve upon last season's dismal performance, languishing outside the top 10 with just seven points from five matches. Despite heavy spending in the transfer market, the expected resurgence has yet to materialize.United's Europa League opener against Twente on Wednesday is crucial, as anything less than a victory would intensify pressure on Ten Hag. The Dutch club, returning to the competition for the first time since 2012, poses a significant challenge.Tottenham, under Ange Postecoglou, have also faced growing discontent among fans. After a blistering start to the season, successive Premier League defeats have dampened spirits. The Europa League, now without teams dropping down from the Champions League, presents a golden opportunity for Spurs to end their trophy drought.They host Qarabag on Thursday, hoping to build on their recent 3-1 victory over Brentford. Postecoglou remains optimistic, emphasizing the importance of perseverance in achieving success.Elsewhere, crisis-hit Roma welcome Athletic Bilbao to the Stadio Olimpico. The Serie A club has enjoyed recent success in Europe, reaching the Europa League semi-finals three times in the past four seasons. However, the sacking of coach Daniele De Rossi has sparked fury among supporters, who have expressed their anger towards management and players.Other notable Europa League fixtures include 2022 winners Eintracht Frankfurt hosting Viktoria Plzen, while four-time European champions Ajax take on Besiktas in Amsterdam.

Mohun Bagan Super Giant's resilience shone through as they rallied from two goals down to secure a thrilling 3-2 victory over NorthEast United FC in an Indian Super League (ISL) encounter at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata.The home team endured a shaky start as NorthEast United dominated the opening half. The trio of Alaeddine Ajaraie, Guillermo Fernandez, and Jithin M.S. kept the Mohun Bagan defense on high alert, leading to a thunderous goal from midfielder Mohammed Bemmamer in the fifth minute.However, Mohun Bagan regrouped swiftly and found the equalizer in the 10th minute through a well-taken header from young defender Dippendu Biswas. The visitors regained the lead in the 24th minute when Ajaraie produced a stunning finish.The second half saw a more balanced contest, with both teams creating chances. Mohun Bagan's persistence paid off in the 61st minute when Subhasish Bose scored a controversial goal to level the scores. The match reached its climax in the 87th minute when substitute Jason Cummings netted the winner for Mohun Bagan, securing all three points for the home team.

Manchester City legend Shaun Wright-Phillips has hailed Kevin De Bruyne as one of the greatest midfielders to ever grace the Premier League, describing him as having "Satan in his foot." De Bruyne played a pivotal role in City's Premier League triumph in the 2023-24 season, despite missing the first half of the campaign due to injury.Wright-Phillips praised De Bruyne's exceptional ability, saying, "He's the perfect player to have behind you. He's probably one of the greatest midfielders that have played in the Premier League." The Belgian international joined City in 2015 and has since become a key figure, scoring 100 goals and providing numerous assists, including 19 for Erling Haaland in the past two seasons.De Bruyne is also the quickest player to reach 100 Premier League assists, achieving the feat in just 237 matches. Wright-Phillips also spoke highly of Haaland, stating that the Norwegian striker is capable of breaking Lionel Messi's record of 91 goals in a season."We've seen what Haaland is capable of over the last two years," Wright-Phillips said. "He's nearly reached 100 goals within a season, so I don't see why he can't break the record." Haaland enjoyed a remarkable debut season with City, scoring 56 goals in all competitions and winning the Premier League, FA Cup, and UEFA Champions League treble.In the 2023-24 season, Haaland continued his prolific form, netting 27 goals in 31 Premier League appearances. His impressive performances helped City secure another league title and League Cup double. Wright-Phillips believes that Haaland's focus is not on breaking records but on scoring goals.

Marseille's resilience shone through as they snatched a dramatic 3-2 victory over Lyon in a pulsating 'Olympico' derby on Sunday. Despite being reduced to 10 men early on, Roberto De Zerbi's side rallied to secure a crucial win that propelled them to second place in Ligue 1.The match erupted into chaos from the outset, with Marseille captain Leonardo Balerdi receiving a red card within five minutes for a reckless challenge. Lyon capitalized on their numerical advantage, with former Marseille defender Duje Caleta-Car heading them into the lead. However, Marseille refused to be deterred. Pol Lirola equalized in the 69th minute, and Ulisses Garcia gave them the lead with just eight minutes remaining.Lyon appeared to have salvaged a point when Rayan Cherki scored in the third minute of added time. But Marseille had the final say. Jonathan Rowe, who had come on as a substitute, drove forward from the left wing, beat two defenders, and unleashed a thunderous shot that flew past Lyon goalkeeper Lucas Perri.The victory was a testament to Marseille's character and determination. Despite being a man down, they never gave up and fought back valiantly. De Zerbi praised his team's spirit, saying, "We dedicate this victory to Balerdi. He made a mistake, but we don't abandon him."Meanwhile, Monaco maintained their unbeaten start to the season with a 3-1 victory over Le Havre. Jordan Teze gave Monaco an early lead, but Daler Kuzyaev equalized for Le Havre. Eliesse Ben Seghir and Folarin Balogun scored in quick succession in the second half to secure the win for Monaco.

In a thrilling Serie A derby, AC Milan emerged victorious over Inter Milan with a dramatic late header from Matteo Gabbia. The 2-1 win snapped Inter's six-match derby winning streak and propelled Milan out of their early season slump.Milan started brightly and took the lead in the 10th minute through a brilliant individual effort from Christian Pulisic. However, Inter equalized just before the half-hour mark when Federico Dimarco converted a penalty.In the second half, Milan dominated possession and created numerous chances. Rafael Leao and Tammy Abraham both came close to scoring, but they were denied by Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer.With time running out, Milan earned a free-kick in a dangerous position. Tijjani Reijnders whipped in a perfect cross, and Gabbia rose highest to power a header into the net. The goal sent the Milan fans into raptures and sealed a memorable victory.Meanwhile, Roma secured their first win of the season with a 3-0 triumph over Udinese. Artem Dovbyk, Paulo Dybala, and Tommaso Baldanzi scored the goals for the Giallorossi.However, the match was overshadowed by protests from Roma fans over the shock sacking of Daniele De Rossi. Supporters hurled abuse at the team and left the Curva Sud section of the Olimpico empty for the first half hour.Despite the off-field drama, Roma played with determination and secured a much-needed victory. They now sit 10th in the Serie A standings, while Udinese drop to third.

In a thrilling Bundesliga encounter, Bayer Leverkusen emerged victorious with a dramatic 4-3 win over Wolfsburg, while Borussia Dortmund suffered a humiliating 5-1 defeat at Stuttgart.Leverkusen and Wolfsburg traded blows throughout the match, with the score locked at 3-3 from the 48th minute. However, Wolfsburg's Yannick Gerhardt was sent off in the dying stages, leaving his team vulnerable. Victor Boniface, who had come on as a substitute, capitalized on the opportunity, scoring a stoppage-time winner to secure a crucial victory for Leverkusen.Leverkusen's Granit Xhaka expressed dissatisfaction with the performance, calling it "a giant wake-up call." He emphasized the need for improvement in defense, stating, "We can't keep going with performances like that. We can't defend so naively."Despite the win, Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso made significant changes to the lineup that had thrashed Feyenoord in the Champions League. Nordi Mukiele, on loan from PSG, had a nightmare debut, scoring an own goal in the fifth minute. Florian Wirtz equalized for Leverkusen, but Wolfsburg's Sebastiaan Bornauw and Mattias Svanberg put the visitors back in the lead. Piero Hincapie leveled the score again for Leverkusen on 48 minutes.In the late game, RB Leipzig were held to a 0-0 draw at promoted St Pauli. Leipzig's goalkeeper, Peter Gulacsi, kept St Pauli at bay in the first half, but the hosts held on for a point in the second half.Meanwhile, Stuttgart soared to a dominant 5-1 victory over Dortmund. Deniz Undav scored a brace, while Ermedin Demirovic, Enzo Millot, and El Bilal Toure also found the net. Dortmund, who had raided Stuttgart for players in the summer, were outclassed and disappointed.Dortmund coach Nuri Sahin admitted that Stuttgart's win was "absolutely deserved" and vowed to improve their performance in their next match.

Kwame Peprah, who had been sidelined for much of last season and overshadowed by Dimitrios Diamantakos, stole the spotlight from the ISL's top scorer last year. On Sunday, the young Ghanaian netted a late match-winner, securing a 2-1 victory for Kerala Blasters over East Bengal FC at the Nehru Stadium.Peprah entered the fray just 13 minutes earlier, replacing star forward Jesus Jimenez. The victory marked Blasters' first of the season, and the winning goal came in dramatic fashion. K.P. Rahul sent a cross from the left, and Anwar Ali appeared ready to clear the danger. However, Mohammed Aimen intercepted the ball with a clever slide and passed it to Peprah, who fired it home with a left-footed shot.P.V. Vishnu, a 22-year-old from Kasargod, had given EBFC the lead in the 59th minute. Noah Sadaoui, the recent Durand Cup's Golden Boot winner, equalized for Blasters in the 63rd minute.After a dismal season-opener against Punjab FC, Blasters coach Mikael Stahre had emphasized the need for a more attacking approach. This strategy paid off in this lively match. Despite being closely guarded, EBFC's Diamantakos remained a threat. He ran into the box and outfoxed goalkeeper Sachin Suresh with a smart cross to his right, which Vishnu tapped in neatly.However, Sadaoui was quick to level the scores. He raced in from the left, dodged a defender, and found the net with a precise shot to the far corner.The result: KBFC 2 (Sadaoui 63, Peprah 88) bt EBFC 1 (Vishnu 59).

Mohun Bagan Super Giant, eager to secure their first victory of the Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 season, will face off against NorthEast United in their second home game on Monday in Kolkata. The Mariners, who drew with Mumbai City FC in their opening match, will be determined to break their winless streak.NorthEast United, on the other hand, enter the clash with confidence after securing a late victory over debutants Mohammedan Sporting in their first game. They will be looking to continue their winning ways in Kolkata, having defeated Mohun Bagan in the Durand Cup 2024 final just a few weeks ago.Mohun Bagan have a remarkable scoring record in the ISL, having found the back of the net in 15 of their 16 games played in 2024. They have scored in 11 consecutive games, just one short of their ISL streak of 12 matches set between March 2021 and January 2022.NorthEast United, known for their defensive prowess, have kept three clean sheets in their last four games, including two in a row in their previous matches. If they can keep Mohun Bagan at bay on Monday, it will be the first time they have not conceded a goal in three consecutive ISL encounters.Mohun Bagan coach Jose Molina is aware of his team's defensive vulnerabilities, having conceded a 2-0 lead against Mumbai City FC. He is determined to address these issues and secure victories in upcoming fixtures."We have to play better and defend better to win matches. We have to focus on that, keep working, stay positive, and hopefully, in the next matches, we will play better," he said.NorthEast United coach Juan Pedro Benali anticipates a strong response from Mohun Bagan after their draw against Mumbai City FC. However, he is confident that his team will pose a significant challenge to the Mariners."Mohun Bagan haven't had the best of results in the last few games. They will be eager to get over us and our job is to make it as much as difficult for them. The players are ready," Benali said.