Ajaraie's hat-trick powers NorthEast United FC to win over Malaysian Armed Forces
Ajaraie first capitalised on a through ball after receiving it on top of the box. Then he finished off a well-coordinated move to put NUFC 2-0 up at the break.
Following some missed chances, Ajaraie completed his hat-trick with a brilliant diagonal shot.
Amir pulled one back for MAF, which suffered its second loss.
Tribhuvan Army FC and debutant 1 Ladakh FC played out a 1-1 draw in a hard-fought Group-C encounter at the JRD Tata Sports Complex Stadium in Jamshedpur.
Ladakh took the lead in the 23rd minute when Siju S. headed in a beautiful in-swinging corner.
TAFC, following its loss to Jamshedpur FC, drew parity before the half-time. Niranjan Dhami took a through ball off a swift counterattack to beat the goalkeeper and a defender.
The results: Group C (Jamshedpur): Tribhuvan Army FC 1 (Niranjan 40) drew with 1 Ladakh FC (Siju 23); Group E (Shillong): Northeast United 3 (Ajaraie 23, 29, 70) bt Malaysian Armed Forces 1 (Amir 88).
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
30 minutes ago
- Time of India
Ajaraie hat-trick in NEUFC's opening win
Coach Juan Pedro Benali on the sidelines and owner John Abraham in the stands could not have been happier as NorthEast United FC began their Durand Cup title defence in style with star striker Alaaeddine Ajaraie scoring a hat-trick in a 3-1 win over Malaysian Armed Forces FT at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong on Saturday. It was the defending champions' game from the start as Ajaraie and Jithin MS kept pushing the visiting defenders' limits upfront. And it didn't take very long for them to cave in as last season's ISL top scorer pounced on a long cross to beat the goalkeeper with a perfect finish in the 23rd minute. Six minutes later, it was Jithin, who dribbled past three defenders inside the box but selflessly gave the final pass to his Moroccan strike partner to double his and the team's lead. Benali tested his bench strength and brought in the likes of new recruit and I-League top scorer Lalrinzuala Lalbiaknia to replace Jithin and link up with Ajaraie. The high press paid dividends in the 70th minute when Ajaraie completed his hat-trick with another finish to a rebound inside the box. The Malaysian side earned a consolation goal towards the end of the game when Mohd Amir Faizal lofted a spectacular long effort that dipped into the goal for their first goal of the tournament. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Luxury Awaits at Paras Floret | Paras Sector 59 Gurgaon Paras The Florett Book Now Undo 1 Ladakh script history in draw: 1 Ladakh FC made a dream start to their national football journey by holding Nepal's seasoned side, Tribhuvan Army, to a 1-1 draw in their first match of the Durand Cup campaign in Jamshedpur on Saturday. In the 'Himalayan derby', the newcomers from Ladakh took advantage of a defensive mistake from the Nepalese team to script history through defender Siju, who headed in the first goal by a Ladakhi player in the tournament, before it was Tribhuvan Army's turn to pounce on a mistake by the 1 Ladakh goalkeeper and back four as Nirajan Dhami equalised with a calm finish just before the break. After the change of ends, the hot and humid conditions began taking a toll on the players as cramps, injuries and drink breaks slowed the pace of the match. But despite the numerous moves and attacks by Tribhuvan Army for a winner, the debutants held on to earn a draw and a point in their first national outing. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Friendship Day wishes , messages and quotes !
New Indian Express
2 hours ago
- New Indian Express
NEUFC win; 1 Ladakh earn historic point on debut with draw
Debutants 1 Ladakh FC made a dream start to their maiden Durand Cup campaign by holding seasoned Nepalese side Tribhuvan Army FC to a 1–1 draw in a hard-fought Group C encounter of the 134th IndianOil Durand Cup which was played here at the JRD Tata Sports Complex. Defender Siju headed in the opener in the 23rd minute to script history as the first-ever Ladakhi player to score in the iconic tournament, before Tribhuvan Army's Nirajan Dhami equalised with a calm finish just before the break. Tribhuvan Army FC Head Coach Megh Raj K.C made three changes to his starting line-up bringing in goal keeper Bikesh Kuthu, Aviskar Khadka and Nirajan Dhami in place of Samit Shrestha, Aayush Timsina and Nawayug Shrestha while 1 Ladakh FC Head Coach Rajan Mani fielded a strong eleven in a 4-3-3 formation with deadly trio Kamalesh, Ajay and Bhaaranyu, leading the attack. 1 Ladakh FC creating history as they become the first team from the Himalayan region to feature in Asia's oldest football tournament and trying to soak in the atmosphere. They are playing with a youthful squad and making their debut in a national tournament for the first time in their history. In what marks a landmark occasion for Ladakh football, debutants 1-Ladakh FC stunned Tribhuvan Army FC with an early lead at the JRD Tata Sports Complex. In the 23rd minute, defender Siju powered a precise header from a corner to give the youthful side a shock advantage. Tribhuvan Army, dominant in possession during the opening exchanges, struggled to create clear-cut chances until the final 20 minutes. By the 35th minute, a Ladakh stalling their momentum but Tribhuvan Army grew into the game and, in the 40th minute, Nirajan Dhami delivered a composed finish, tapping in a through ball following a swift counterattack to level the score and execute a trademark 'Siu' celebration. Two minutes of added time followed, and the half ended at 1‑1. The second half began with Tribhuvan Army FC pushing forward with urgency, dominating possession and setting the tempo. Their midfield began to dictate the play, creating multiple half-chances through both flanks. Despite the pressure, 1 Ladakh FC's defence remained resolute, anchored by a disciplined backline and sharp goalkeeping. Tribhuvan Army's forwards tried to break through with quick combinations and set pieces, but Ladakh's debutants stayed organized, often resorting to quick counters to relieve the pressure. As the half wore on, fatigue set in, with several players from both sides requiring treatment and hydration breaks. While the Nepal side came close on a couple of occasions, most notably with a curling effort that narrowly missed the post they failed to convert their chances. Ladakh showed grit and heart, ensuring the game ended in a well-earned 1–1 draw. The result marks a proud moment for 1 Ladakh FC, who claimed their first Durand Cup point in historic fashion.
Hindustan Times
4 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Menezes, Ghosh recall the Mumbai boy who will coach India
Mumbai: In a residential building in Mira Road, Henry Menezes found himself waiting for Khalid Jamil. This was early 2000s and the Mumbai suburb was yet to become the bustling locality it is today. But it was where Jamil found a home. Khalid Jamil, the new head coach of Indian men's team. (Durand Cup) Menezes, a former India goalkeeper who played for and then managed the now defunct Mahindra United, was tasked with getting Jamil to finally sign the contract to join the club. 'Khalid was not easy to get a hold of,' Menezes recalled to HT. 'Once he got home, we put him in the car and took him to our office. I gave him a pen to sign, and then he says 'ye pen ka colour accha nahi hai, dusra hai kya? (the pen's colour is not good, do you have another one?)'' Jamil, who played for Air India at the time, was not one who liked change. He was fiercely loyal, and it took the Mahindra United team management over three hours to get Jamil to sign on the dotted line. On Friday, Jamil agreed for another big change. He has 40 India caps. Now the 48-year-old is taking over as the national coach. He becomes the first Indian since 2012 to be appointed chief coach of the men's national team. But for a man who played all his club football for Mumbai teams, Jamil's journey started over 2,500 kms away from Mira Road. Born in Kuwait, Jamil and his family had to flee the country after the Gulf War broke in 1990. They found shelter in Mumbai, but Jamil had carried his love for football with him. He played for the Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers (RCF) youth team, and the defender was soon recruited by Air India, under the tutelage of Dronacharya awardee Bimal Ghosh. 'He was very sharp. He'd pick up things very quickly and that's what has shaped him as a coach as well. He was dedicated, disciplined and had a madness for the game,' Ghosh said. He was also fiercely competitive on the field. Jamil once reacted to a bad refereeing decision by angrily kicking a ball at a chair. 'He broke the chair with that shot,' Ghosh recalled with a laugh. 'I told him I'll kick him out of the team if he ever did that again. He apologised, and that is the only time he has reacted that badly on the pitch.' Of course, he is a vocal presence on the touchline as a coach. But off the field, he is soft-spoken and calm. 'We used to keep joking with him, 'ground main tu sher hota hai, bahaar billi hota hai.' (you're a lion on the field but a cat outside). He'd smile, put his head down and walk away,' Menezes said. His playing career was severely hampered by knee injuries. Towards the end of his career, Menezes brought Jamil in to captain the newly formed Mumbai FC team in 2007. It was there that Jamil was given his first shot at coaching. 'Our head coach David Booth decided that Khalid should take charge of the U-19 team while also playing in the seniors,' Menezes said. 'The junior team started to do really well. So, when David left, we decided to just make Khalid the senior team coach.' That seven-season stint as Mumbai FC coach saw him being 'put in the furnace,' as Menezes described it. It was only when Jamil was sacked in 2016 that he showed his unflailing character. Till then, his entire football career had been in Mumbai. 'That was the saddest moment of his life because Mumbai was his home,' Menezes said. 'But coming from Kuwait, living in Mira Road, he's seen the grind and worked his way through it. He's bounced back in every situation.' A year after leaving Mumbai FC, he led Aizawl FC to an unexpected I-League title. And his reputation as a coach continued to grow. In 2020-21, he became the first Indian coach to lead an Indian Super League (ISL) team - NorthEast United - to the semi-final, a result he repeated with Jamshedpur FC this year. Jamil's big achievement was getting the foreign players to gel with the Indians in the team. 'He would have sat with them, learnt their mindset and won their confidence,' Menezes said. 'The foreign players are difficult to crack. That's what he managed to do. He's a great man-manager.' Jamil's teams performed above expectations. Now, he takes over a national team that has sunk as low as 133 in world rankings. India will hope he can get the best out of the national players too.
