Durand Cup: Bodoland FC blank ITBP FT to seal historic quarterfinal spot
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Time of India
30 minutes ago
- Time of India
NEUFC, Lajong set up last-4 date in Durand
It will be a repeat of the semifinal last season as NorthEast United FC set up a last-four clash with regional neighbours Shillong Lajong FC in the 134th Durand Cup on Saturday. The defending champions took another step towards their title defence by beating an upbeat Bodoland FC — egged on by a fullhouse of local supporters at SAI Stadium — 4-0 with a brace from Alaaeddine Ajaraie (29', 61'), new recruit Andy Gaitan's (53') first goal for his team and a late strike from Parthib Gogoi (90+2') in Kokrajhar in the second quarterfinal of the day. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now In the first quarterfinal, hosts Shillong Lajong came from behind to overcome Indian Navy FT 2-1 at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong to secure their second consecutive semifinal appearance. Second-half goals from Damaitphang Lyngdoh (69') and Everbrightson Sana Mylliempdah (79') gave the home side the victory after Vijay Marandi (38') had given Indian Navy the lead towards the end of the first half. Meanwhile, defensive lapse on part of the Bodoland skipper helped Jithin MS make an inroad into the Bodoland box from the right in the 29th minute. He could have tried to get it past the onrushing goalkeeper. But he looked to his left to find the dangerous Ajaraie standing unmarked, stopped and took a turn that beat Bodoland's last line of defence and a pass with his second touch that reached the Moroccan's feet in front of the box. And, to continue his exceptional run in Indian football, Ajaraie put the ball in to the left corner for his 33rd goal in 35 matches. But his 34th goal for and seventh of the tournament had to wait. Even as the home side came back stronger after the break, the Highlanders kept up their high pressing game. A 53rd-minute move from skipper Michel Zabaco released Buanthanglun Samte on the left, whose cross was met by Gaitan, whose low strike squeezed past goalkeeper Diamary to double NEUFC's lead and his first for his new club. Eight minutes later, Ajaraie killed the contest when he found space on receiving Thoi Singh's cross from the right into the box. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The Moroccan toyed with the goalkeeper and defence before slotting coolly into the net. Gogoi could have made it 4-0 in the 76th minute if he didn't shoot the ball well over the bar after a brilliant run from the left wing. But he made up for it when substitute Jairo threaded a delightful through ball for Gogoi, who kept his composure to slot into the far corner and complete the 4-0 rout.
The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
Chhetri missing in list of 35 probables named by new coach Jamil for CAFA Nations Cup
Talismanic striker Sunil Chhetri has been left out of the 35 probables named by newly-appointed Indian football team head coach Khalid Jamil for the upcoming CAFA Nations Cup in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. It's unlikely that he was dropped on the basis of his form in the four matches he played after coming back from his international retirement. However, it's also not known whether Chhetri himself requested not to consider him for the tournament, to be held later this month, or if he was rested as his Indian Super League (ISL) side Bengaluru FC is yet to start pre-season training. Bengaluru FC recently suspended salaries for its first-team players and staff, including that of Chhetri, due to uncertainty surrounding the ISL's future. However, Jamil's list of probables includes other Bengaluru FC players like goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, defenders Chinglensana Singh, Rahul Bheke, Roshan Singh Naorem, and midfieler Suresh Singh. All India Football Federation (AIFF) officials are not willing to comment on the matter, saying "the question should be asked to the head coach". The 41-year-old Chhetri took international retirement after playing against Kuwait in June last year but made a return for national duty in the match against Maldives in March this year following a request from the then India head coach Manolo Marquez to help the team in the Asian Cup qualifiers third round. Chhetri has played four matches since then and scored once -- in the team's 3-0 win over Maldives. India drew Bangladesh 0-0 and lost to Hong Kong 0-1 in the Asian Cup qualifiers, leaving the country in a difficult position to qualify for the continental showpiece in 2027. In between India lost 0-2 to Thailand in an international friendly match. Marquez quit after the string of poor performance of the team. The players will begin training in Bengaluru from Saturday with 22 players having reported to the camp so far. The remaining 13 other players are expected to join the camp after completing their Durand Cup engagements with their respective clubs. Out of the remaining 13, seven -- Anirudh Thapa, Deepak Tangri, Lalengmawia Ralte, Liston Colaco, Manvir Singh, Sahal Abdul Samad, Vishal Kaith -- are from Mohun Bagan, three -- Anwar Ali, Jeakson Singh, Naorem Mahesh Singh -- are from East Bengal and one -- Jithin MS -- from NorthEast United. Placed in Group B of the CAFA Nations Cup, India face co-host Tajikistan on August 29, Iran on September 1 and Afghanistan on September 4. The third-place match and the final will be played on September 8 in Hisor and Tashkent (Uzbekistan), respectively. The AIFF has urged all the clubs to release national team players for the tournament, so that the national team can prepare for the upcoming Asian Cup Qualifiers match against Singapore (home and away) in October.
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Jamil decides to move forward without Chhetri
In his first assignment, Khalid Jamil is preparing the national team for the CAFA Nations Cup to be held in Tajikistan later this month Panaji: The All India Football Federation ( AIFF ) took many by surprise when it publicly announced that 13 players from four clubs had not reported for the CAFA Nations Cup preparatory camp on the opening day in Bengaluru. Newly-appointed coach Khalid Jamil selected 35 probables for the assignment in Tajikistan, but with four clubs – Mohun Bagan, East Bengal, Jamshedpur FC and NorthEast United – busy with the Durand Cup knockouts, not everyone was available. An hour later, the AIFF announced the list of 22 players who were attending the camp. In both lists, Sunil Chhetri 's name was missing. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Berkshire Hathaway: American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends These 5 Books For Turning Your Li... Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Chhetri, India's highest goal-scorer and most capped footballer, was coaxed out of international retirement by national team coach Manolo Marquez early this year. He played four matches, but with Jamil now in-charge, it appears that the coach has decided to move forward without the Bengaluru FC striker. Chhetri turned 41 early this month. Khalid is just seven years older, with their playing careers overlapping for six years. The top domestic goal-scorer in last season's Indian Super League is not the only experienced player who has been left out. Also missing from the probables' list is Mohun Bagan captain Subhashish Bose, defender Ashish Rai, and Mumbai City midfielder Brandon Fernandes. Goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu returns to the national team set-up after being dropped by Manolo. Jamil's first list of probables was always going to throw a few surprises. The coach didn't disappoint, picking two Jamshedpur players, Albino Gomes and Manvir Singh, besides Hyderabad FC defender Alex Saji, all of whom are uncapped. The biggest surprise though was Sunil Benchamin, a left-back from Army Red who is currently on an amateur player contract. Last season, Kerala-born Sunil was playing in the third tier of Indian football with Diamond Harbour, helping the team qualify for the I-League. Jamil's first assignment with the national team will be the Central Asian Football Association (CAFA) Nations Cup 2025, where India have games against hosts Tajikistan (Aug 29), Iran (Sept 1), and Afghanistan (Sept 4). 'The AIFF appreciates cooperation of Jamshedpur for releasing Khalid Jamil despite an ongoing tournament, a gesture of national interest,' the federation said in a statement . 'We urge all clubs to release national team players for this crucial assignment, which also prepares the squad for the upcoming AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers against Singapore.' While 13 senior players are missing from the camp, 10 U-23 players from Mohun Bagan, Jamshedpur, and NorthEast United have also failed to report in Bengaluru as Naushad Moosa's team prepares for two friendlies against Iraq in Malaysia and the AFC U-23 Asian Cup 2026 qualifiers in Qatar. The AIFF has called for "cooperation from all stakeholders." It is unlikely that the clubs will release players before the end of their campaign in the Durand Cup, with the final scheduled for Aug 23. 'The clubs are within their rights not to release players for the preparatory camp,' said a senior official. 'The international window is from Sept 1-9 and clubs are bound to release players only 48 hours prior to an international assignment.'
