NEUFC hit MSC for a six, set up quarters date with JFC
Notwithstanding the heartbreak of the ISL playoffs, the Highlanders fans got rights for the largest cheer in the pre-quarterfinals of
Kalinga Super Cup
with their star striker
Alaaeddine Ajaraie
scoring his first-ever hat-trick for the club as North East United FC routed
Mohammedan Sporting
6-0 on a hot and humid afternoon in Bhubaneswar.
The treble from Ajaraie (18', 57', 90+3'), coupled with the opener from Jithin MS (3') and strikes from Nestor Albiach (42') and Guillermo Fernandez (66') ensured that Juan Pedro Benali's men romped to the quarterfinals with a show of confidence at Kalinga Stadium on Thursday.
It was a disappointing end to Mohammedan's campaign that got very little time for preparation with Mehrajuddin Wadoo's wards reaching the Odisha capital just three days back.
Later in the evening, a strong
Jamshedpur FC
contingent set up a quarterfinal with Benali's
NEUFC
by beating Hyderabad FC 2-0 in the second match of the day.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed!
IC Markets
Start Now
Undo
Despite boasting a squad with all six foreigners, Khalid Jamil's men faced a tough contest from the all-Indian Hyderabad side that stayed at the back to curb all of Jamshedpur's efforts for a breakthrough.
The deadlock was broken just before the break when Ashutosh Mehta was fouled inside the box by Manoj Mohammed and Javier Siverio made no mistake in sending goalkeeper Arshdeep Singh the other way to convert from the spot.
It was a delightful move started by Siverio outside the box that led to a pass to Jordan Murray, who sent a low cross to an onrushing Stephen Eze who guided it into the goal. Replays, however, showed that the Nigerian was offside.
While NEUFC's first and third goals were results of serious defensive lapses on the part of their rivals with an unmarked Jithin tapping in an Albiach cross inside the box in the third minute and the Spaniard turning scorer after another defensive error just before half-time, their second was a testament to the skill of Moroccan Ajaraie in front of goal.
The change of ends did not change the course of the game as the ISL Golden Boot winner powered in a rebound near goalmouth in the 57th minute and played provider to Spaniard Fernanadez nine minutes later.
Ajaraie completed his hat-trick from the spot after he was brought down inside the box in injury time.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
39 minutes ago
- Time of India
Mohammed Siraj, son of auto driver, gets emotional about father's profession; actress reacts
Netizens react About Siraj's upcoming series As the Indian cricket team lands in England for the high-stakes five-match Test series, all eyes are on the beginning of a new era—one without legends like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in whites. Amid intense preparations for the upcoming WTC cycle , fast bowler Mohammed Siraj has turned the spotlight onto something far more personal—and a deeply emotional Instagram post, Siraj reflected on his journey from the narrow lanes of Hyderabad to the grandeur of Lord's, crediting his late father, an auto-rickshaw driver, for the values that shaped him. The cricketer reflected on his journey from being the son of an auto-rickshaw driver to representing India on the world stage. Grateful for every opportunity, he shared how his background, once mocked during his low moments, is actually his greatest strength. His father's relentless hard work taught him the value of persistence and humility. Siraj recalled long walks home after practice, the hunger that shaped him, and how criticism often reduces his story to a stereotype. He questioned why it's so hard for people to see themselves in others, stressing that everyone is striving for a better life, regardless of where they come from. His message was clear: success doesn't ask about your background; it only sees your post quickly went viral, garnering thousands of reactions from fans and public figures alike. Among them was actress Zainai Bhosle—Siraj's close friend, singer, and Asha Bhosle's granddaughter—who expressed admiration for his flooded social media with support. Many from Hyderabad said they felt represented every time he stepped onto the pitch. Others praised him for showing that success is not defined by background but by determination and India prepares to face England in iconic venues like Lord's, Edgbaston, and Old Trafford from June to August 2025, Siraj will play a key role in India's pace attack. Former bowling coach Bharat Arun recently lauded his adaptability and control, saying Siraj's ability to read conditions and use angles will be critical, especially with the Dukes ball in swinging English conditions.
Time of India
39 minutes ago
- Time of India
AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers: Parth Jindal, fans fume at India's unacceptable 1-0 loss to Hong Kong
India's AFC Asian Cup Qualifier campaign suffered a major blow on June 10 as they fell 0-1 to Hong Kong — a team ranked 26 places below them in the FIFA rankings (India at 133rd, Hong Kong at 153rd). The upset was sealed in dramatic fashion during injury time, when goalkeeper Vishal Kaith rushed off his line and fouled Hong Kong's Michael Udebuluzor inside the box. The referee immediately pointed to the spot, and Stefan Pereira calmly slotted home the penalty in the 94th minute to secure a historic win for Hong Kong. Despite dominating possession for much of the game, India's familiar shortcomings in front of goal once again proved costly. A golden opportunity fell to Ashique Kuruniyan in the first half after a clever pass from Liston Colaco, but the winger failed to convert — a miss that came to define the evening. Full-time! A tough one to take for the #BlueTigers.#HKGIND #IndianFootball ⚽️ Indian football head coach under fire Head coach Manolo Márquez's tactical decisions also came under the scanner. His choice to bench veteran striker Sunil Chhetri — who had recently come out of international retirement to boost a struggling attack — raised eyebrows. His replacement, Lallianzuala Chhangte, was largely ineffective, and the midfield lacked cohesion and creativity. 57' Substitutions!Sunil Chhetri & Mahesh Naorem ⬆️Ashique Kuruniyan & Brandon Fernandes ⬇️🇭🇰 0️⃣-0️⃣ 🇮🇳Watch #HKGIND in #ACQ2027 live on @FanCode 📺#BlueTigers #IndianFootball ⚽️ This defeat not only puts India's qualification hopes in serious jeopardy but also exposes deeper issues around the team's tactical direction and morale. Fans and experts alike are now questioning whether Márquez is the right man to lead the team forward. Parth Jindal, fans fume at India's loss One of the strongest public reactions came from Bengaluru FC co-owner and JSW Sports CEO Parth Jindal, who didn't hold back in his criticism. Taking to social media after the match, Jindal called on the All India Football Federation (AIFF) to make immediate and sweeping changes, including appointing a new head coach. "This is completely unacceptable @IndianFootball — just not good enough under any circumstances," Jindal wrote. "Deep introspection needed by the AIFF. This is not what all of us lovers and backers of Indian football have spent our hard-earned money and effort to witness. Get a manager and a system that works — it's high time. There is too much effort to see a result like this." This is completely unacceptable @IndianFootball - just not good enough under any circumstances - deep introspection needed by the AIFF - this is not what all of us lovers and backers of Indian football have spent our hard earned money and effort to witness - get a manager and a… His remarks struck a chord with frustrated fans who have grown increasingly disillusioned with the national team's stagnation. The Hong Kong loss follows a 0-3 friendly defeat to Thailand, further compounding the pressure on the AIFF and Márquez's coaching staff. Don't expect any real change in Indian football as long as corrupt babus sit at the top of AIFF. :) This is just the beginning of the downfall, we're not even halfway there. Totally agree. The fans, players, and everyone involved deserve much better. Indian football has passion and potential — but without a clear system and leadership, progress will keep stalling. It's time for change, not BCCI should take over Indian football too — it… Humble Request to PM Narender Modi Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya for OCI and PIO in Indian Football! 🙏🏻🇮🇳We Can't see our Indian National Team Like this! 🙏🏻 With just a sliver of hope remaining for qualification, the clock is ticking — and for Indian football, another crossroads has arrived.
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
40 minutes ago
- First Post
'Get a manager and a system that works': India's loss to Hong Kong sparks backlash
India's 0-1 loss to Hong Kong in the 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers has sparked outrage. Reactions from Parth Jindal, Shaji Prabhakaran and others call for introspection after another poor performance. read more The on Tuesday in a crucial 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualifier game. The result has not gone down well with Indian football fans and stakeholders, who took to social media to slam the team and the management. The match, played at the newly built Kai Tak Stadium in Hong Kong, saw the home team grab a last-minute winner thanks to Stefan Pereira, who converted a penalty in stoppage time after a foul by Indian goalkeeper Vishal Kaith. Despite creating a few good chances, India once again struggled to finish, and it has left their qualification hopes at risk. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Reactions pour in after India lose to Hong Kong Strong reactions poured in on social media soon after the match. Bengaluru FC owner Parth Jindal didn't hold back his frustration. Former AIFF General Secretary Shaji Prabhakaran also voiced his disappointment. Here are some of the reactions that are going viral after India's defeat to Hong Kong. 'This is completely unacceptable @IndianFootball - just not good enough under any circumstances - deep introspection needed by the AIFF - this is not what all of us lovers and backers of Indian football have spent our hard earned money and effort to witness - get a manager and a system that works - it's high time - there is too much effort to see a result like this," Parth Jindal wrote on Twitter. More from Football 'A tough pill to swallow: 1-0 loss to Hong Kong in their new Kai Tak Stadium. A far cry from our 4-0 win in 2022. This puts our AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualification in serious jeopardy. The decision to appoint a dual-responsibility coach backfired. Please don't say we lost coz we don't have OCI/PIO, it was about poor performance, echoing the Thailand game. Manolo's gamble hasn't paid off. Sunil's return hasn't paid off either. Our disaster run continues,' Shaji Prabhakaran said. This is completely unacceptable @IndianFootball - just not good enough under any circumstances - deep introspection needed by the AIFF - this is not what all of us lovers and backers of Indian football have spent our hard earned money and effort to witness - get a manager and a… — Parth Jindal (@ParthJindal11) June 10, 2025 A tough pill to swallow: 1-0 loss to Hong Kong in their new Kai Tak Stadium. A far cry from our 4-0 win in 2022. This puts our AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualification in serious jeopardy. The decision to appoint a dual-responsibility coach backfired. Please don't say we lost coz… — Shaji Prabhakaran (@Shaji4Football) June 10, 2025 STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This very game (and the last 6 months) should be included in a University MBA Program as a case study in mismanagement (and shocking man management ) of an organisation. If #IndianFootball was a global corporate entity they would currently be facing a class action lawsuit — Joe Morrison (@joefooty) June 10, 2025 What happened in the match? Earlier in the day, Manolo Marquez kept out veteran striker Sunil Chhetri from the starting XI. A sea of red packed the stands at the newly built Kai Tak Stadium but despite the strong home support, India did pretty well to create a few chances in the first half, even though Hong Kong enjoyed more possession. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD But, as has been the trend with them in recent times, the lack of finishing has again let the Blue Tigers down in the first 45 minutes. Among the opportunities that came their way before the half time break, the Indians came closest in the 35th minute but Ashique Kuruniyan shot the ball wide from a close range after Liston Colaco ran down the left to provide him a nice cross. Meanwhile, after having received medical attention after getting injured, Colaco unleashed a powerful long-range shot but it went straight into the keeper's gloves. Hong Kong also grew in confidence as the game approached the half time. The home team could have taken the lead from a free-kick had it not been for a timely clearance by Asish Rai from goal-mouth after custodian Vishal Kaith was beaten. Both India and Hong Kong have had their moments but neither side could convert in a tightly contested first half of this crucial 2027 AFC Asian Cup Qualifier. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Kuruniyan, who has otherwise performed his job admirably on the flanks, looked to have got another chance to break the deadlock some minutes into the second half, but could not. Soon after, coach Marquez brought on India's all-time highest goal-scorer Chhetri alongside Naorem Singh in place of Kuruniyan and Brandon Fernandes. India created chances in the second half too, including in the 81st minute when Lallianzuala Chhangte found Chhetri with a brilliant cutback inside the Hong Kong box, but the veteran striker was not able to connect it well. The result is a setback for India who came into the game after a goal-less draw against Bangladesh in their first Asian Cup qualifying match, at home in March. India have one point from two games and are last in the group, and only one team from the pool of four will qualify for the final. India will now need to win their remaining four matches, but given their inability to score, it looks improbable. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD (With agency inputs)
