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The Hindu
18-05-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
India beats Bangladesh on penalties to win SAFF U-19 Championship 2025
India U19s showed nerves of steel to outlast Bangladesh 4-3 on penalties to successfully defend its SAFF U19 Championship crown at the Golden Jubilee Stadium on Sunday. The match had ended 1-1 after regulation time, forcing a nervy penalty shootout. Buoyed by a raucous crowd, India had taken the lead in the second minute through captain Singamayum Shami before Bangladesh equalised in the 61st minute through Md Joy Ahamed. The shootout was not for the faint-hearted. Rohen Singh's limp second penalty gave Bangladesh the upper hand as keeper Md Ismail Hossain Mahin saved the spot-kick. But Bibiano Fernandes' boys refused to buckle. When Bangladesh skipper Nazmul Huda Faysal blazed his effort over the cross-bar, the game swung back India's way. With renewed belief, India converted its remaining kicks, and goalkeeper Suraj Singh Aheibam delivered when it mattered the most. He dived low to his left to deny Salahuddin Sahed. Captain Shami, who had started the evening with a stunning goal, stepped up for the final kick. Calm, composed, and full of conviction, he slotted it in to crown India champions once again. A fitting end to a tense and fiercely fought contest. SAFF U19 Championship Awards Highest Goal-scorer: Danny Meitei Laishram (5 goals) - India Best Goalkeeper: Suraj Singh Aheibam - India Most Valuable Player: MD Arbash - India Fair Play: India India had come flying out of the blocks. Within two minutes, it was ahead. Awarded a free-kick from over 30 yards out, Shami spotted the Bangladesh keeper slightly out of position and went for goal. His curling strike was pinpoint, and even though Mahin got a hand to it, the power behind the effort carried it into the net. ALSO READ | 'Perfect Leader' Khalid Jamil has eye on future as he sets up Jamshedpur FC's foundation India rode the momentum, dominating possession and pushing Bangladesh on the back foot. In the 16th minute, Omang Dodum sliced through the defence with a solo run and was nearly in for a second, but Mahin made a vital save to keep Bangladesh in the contest. Those missed chances would come back to haunt India. Bangladesh, rattled at first, grew into the game. It closed down spaces, cut off India's passing channels, and slowly turned the tide. By half-time, it had begun to threaten with set-pieces, but India's backline stood firm. The breakthrough came in the 61st minute. A chaotic corner sparked a scramble in the box, and Md Joy Ahamed pounced on the loose ball, firing it past Suraj Singh to level the match. It was the first goal India had conceded in the tournament, and it came at the worst possible moment. From there, both teams pressed for a winner, but the game turned cagey and physical. The final third became a battlefield, and clear-cut chances were few and far between. With the whistle blowing for full time, it all came down to the tie-breaker. And India captain Shami rose to the occasion a second time to bury the final penalty into the net and send his team and the crowd into delirium.
India Gazette
15-05-2025
- Sport
- India Gazette
Head coaches defining the ISL 2024-25 season
New Delhi [India], May 15 (ANI): Head coaches are the cornerstone of any football team, the master strategists and cultural architects. From instilling a winning mentality and nurturing talent to devising tactical game plans and steering their squads toward glory, they are instrumental in defining a team's identity and success, as per the official website of ISL. The Indian Super League (ISL) has seen head coaches from around the globe leave their mark, guiding their teams with tactical acumen and leadership. From Jose Molina's record-breaking campaign with Mohun Bagan Super Giant (MBSG) to Jamshedpur FC's (JFC) resurgence under Khalid Jamil, the 2024-25 season has been shaped by the tactical brilliance and unwavering commitment of these figures on the touchline. Jose Molina led Mohun Bagan Super Giant to their first-ever ISL double this season. With several big names in the squad, the Spaniard easily managed the dressing room and guided the Mariners (MBSG) to break numerous league records. Molina's men accumulated 56 points in the 2024-25 Indian Super League season, becoming the first team to cross the 50-point mark in a single campaign. MBSG's defenders scored 14 goals, making them the first club to register 10+ goals by defenders in a single season. The team also scored 52 goals and kept 16 clean sheets, setting new benchmarks in the league. Gerard Zaragoza experienced an eventful campaign with Bengaluru FC (BFC), guiding the team to the playoffs and the ISL Cup final. Despite falling short of silverware, the Blues (BFC) showed steady progress under the Spanish head coach and consistently demonstrated their potential throughout the season. Under Zaragoza's leadership, Bengaluru FC conceded their first goal of the 2024-25 season after 494 minutes of play, becoming the first team to go over 400 minutes from the start of a season without conceding. The Blues' cohesion and lightning-fast transitions made them one of the most formidable sides this season. Khalid Jamil has proved his mettle time and again. The Indian head coach guided Jamshedpur FC to a top-six finish for the first time in three years and led them to the semi-finals--a remarkable achievement for a team that had spent recent seasons in the bottom half of the table. Under Jamil's guidance, Jamshedpur FC delivered impressive performances, relying on tactical awareness, particularly on home soil. The Men of Steel (JFC) showcased structure, discipline, and a resolute mentality under pressure. Their commitment to an old-school style of football, infused with renewed vigour, set them apart in the league and laid the foundation for something greater in the future. Manolo Marquez's men finished second to MBSG in the league standings, but FC Goa (FCG) were in the race for the League Shield throughout the season. Their consistent attacking dominance was evident as they scored in 23 consecutive league matches, becoming the first team to achieve this feat and setting a new benchmark in the league. FC Goa stood out for their versatility and emphasis on collective strength over individual brilliance. Under Marquez's guidance, several emerging talents like Brison Fernandes, Ayush Chhetri, and Hrithik Tiwari made their mark in the league, playing key roles for the Gaurs throughout the campaign. (ANI)
Hindustan Times
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
HT Kick Off: 'Super' FC Goa's deserved a trophy
Dejan Dražić dragged Ashutosh Mehta out of position and found Aakash Sangwan with a first-time flick. And with that deft touch, Dražić had carved open Jamshedpur FC leading to the first goal of the Kalinga Super Cup final. It was Carl McHugh who had set the move going and it was fitting that the industrious Irishman would then help Dražić score with a pass that cut through two lines. So dominant were FC Goa that a national trophy after four seasons and a return to Asia were never in doubt in the last top tier match of 2024-25. It happened with a squad FC Goa head coach Manolo Marquez said comprised friends rather than teammates. In the comeback against Punjab FC, equalising two minutes from time and finding a winner, FC Goa showed the character needed to thrive in a knockout tournament. In the way Borja Herrera scored the final's second, they showed class. This was hardly how a cup competition should be conducted but about this there was no doubt: FC Goa were the best team in it. FC Goa were less than two minutes from forcing extra-time in the ISL semi-final which, ironically, did not go that far because Dražić, who was otherwise superb that night against Bengaluru FC, played back when he could have done the opposite. Mohun Bagan Super Giant were an irresistible force – for them money is never a problem because of Mr Goenka, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee said, speaking as a guest at an East Bengal event – but with significantly less resource, FC Goa finished second 10 points ahead of the rest. ISL's numbers are skewed because Mohun Bagan and East Bengal arrived late and teams have wound up or relocated but that FC Goa have made the most play-offs (8 in 11 editions) and scored the most goals show they have been doing something right. Actually, they have been doing a lot of things right. Signing Zico, who didn't shirk from giving Indian players a run out, taking a punt on Anwar Ali even if it meant training people to use defibrillators, running Little Gaurs League where 1225 matches across age-groups from under-6 to under-16 for boys and girls were played this time (that ended with a Super Cup as well, one day after the final in Bhubaneswar), and starting an award in honour of Ferran Corominas, FC Goa's growth as an institution has been one of ISL's success stories. But, for me, the biggest success story is FC Goa's investment in youth. Their development team have won the Goa Professional League and the Goa Police Cup. Brison Fernandes, adjudged Emerging Player of 2024-25 in ISL and by AIFF, joined the club's under-16 squad in 2016 worked his way through age-specific sides and the development team, played in the state league, the Police Cup and is now an international. Muhammed Nemil is another young player in whom FC Goa invested, signing him from the Reliance Foundation Young Champs on a long-term deal and then sending him to Spain to train. This term, Prachit Gaonkar became the first FC Goa player to have played for all their youth teams (under-13, under-15, under-17, under-19) and the development squad before making his ISL debut. It is a story similar to Vinith Venkatesh at Bengaluru FC and appropriate for a club that made stars out of local players Mandar Rao Dessai and Romeo Fernandes. Appropriate also for a state, which according to Goa Football Association (GFA) president Caitano Fernandes, has 6800 registered players excluding those who play inter-village and other private tournaments. GFA organised 1400 matches this season, Fernandes has said in a letter to AIFF seeking clarification on how the federation rewarded state associations for promoting the game this season. Given the massive financial stress running a football team in India is, it is understandable that youth development would be given the short shrift. Finding players through trials just before an age-specific I-League is the usual route for most clubs. Especially because there simply aren't enough games available to justify building a team for the season. That is what makes FC Goa's attempt to create an organic pathway for player development commendable. It helps you understand why Marquez, the club's most successful coach ever with 37 wins in 61 matches over two seasons, says that in terms of organisation, FC Goa is the best club in India. And why he could leave the India job for another season or two at FC Goa.
Time of India
04-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
FC Goa crowned Kalinga Super Cup champions after 3-0 win over Jamshedpur FC
Bhubaneswar: It was a fairytale end to coach Manolo Marquez's tenure at FC Goa as his men bid him adieu with the perfect parting gift by clinching the Kalinga Super Cup with a dominant 3-0 win over Jamshedpur FC here on Saturday. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now And their happy ending with the Spanish coach also scripted a new beginning as they claimed an AFC ACL2 spot – their second continental sojourn, having qualified for the AFC Champions League with their ISL Shield win in 2010-21. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. While the trophy presentation was conducted indoors after a sudden cyclonic storm and rains affected a proper ceremony in front of its supporters, it could not dampen FC Goa's celebrations following their brilliant performance at Kalinga Stadium. Wearing black armbands in tribute to the victims of Lairai Devi Temple in Goa, the Gaurs took the wind away from under Jamshedpur players' feet as Borja Herrera, who was adjudged the player of the match, scored a brace (23', 51') followed by another strike from Dejan Drazic (72') earned them their first trophy since the 2021 Durand Cup. As for Khalid Jamil and his Red Miners, it was heartbreak for them as they conceded three goals and a defeat having not conceded a single of them in this edition before the final. It was a speedy start to the match with both teams pressing high from the word-go and trying to build the momentum for that all-important breakthrough. For Jamshedpur, Rei Tachikawa went for a long shot in the first minute itself and captain Javi Hernandez then darted into the box from the left for a shot that was well saved by young Goa custodian Hrithik Tiwari in the second minute. Goa, however, began growing into the game soon after with Herrera and Aakash Sangwan looking to control the game from the left and right flanks respectively. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now And Marquez and his men did not have to wait long for the opener as a brilliant through from the middle by Drazic reached Sangwan on the left wing while deceiving Ashutosh Mehta outside the box. The youngster shot the ball low to the left of Albino Gomes, who had no option but to parry it near an onrushing Herrera, who shot the rebound only for Stephen Eze to block. However, there was no stopping the Spaniard on the second rebound as he made no mistake in shooting it higher and into the left of the goal. The breakthrough only made Goa more dominant even as Jamshedpur tried their best to get back into the game. Their best chance of the half came in the 43rd minute from a corner kick that almost hit the outstretched hand of Sandesh Jhingan in front of the goal Instead, Lazar Cirkovic's header hit the woodwork. All plans and strategies that Jamil might have discussed during the break came to naught soon after the change of end as Gomes, who had kept three clean sheets in the tournament so far, was beaten by a screamer out of nowhere from Herrera, who had made a run from the midfield. It was Herrera's fourth goal of the Super Cup as he levelled with teammate Iker Guarrotxena as the topscorer while taking the match away from Jamshedpur. However, to the further disappointment of the Red Miners fans, who had long been their No. 12 of the final with their cheers, it was Drazic who sealed the match and the trophy for his team by receiving a long through from Carl McHugh and going around Gomes to confidently put the ball into the net and the Red Miners' dreams of a trophy into dust.
The Hindu
04-05-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
Outgoing coach Manolo Marquez urges FC Goa to hold onto its players after Super Cup success
FC Goa manager Manolo Marquez said his side was the deserved champion of the Super Cup 2025 following its 3-0 final triumph against Jamshedpur FC at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on Saturday. Borja Herrera bagged a brace while Dejan Drazic sealed the deal to ensure that Marquez walked away with a trophy in his final game at the club. It also confirmed Goa's participation in continental competition after a break of four years, booking a spot in the AFC Champions League Two (ACL2) 2025-26 season. 'It has been a great tournament for us. We have a fantastic group of players, and they completely deserve to be the champions,' Marquez said during the post-match press conference. 'When we arrived here, we knew that we needed to win four games. And we did it,' he added while donning a wide smile. READ | FC Goa wins Super Cup 2025, beats Jamshedpur in Manolo Marquez's swansong For Marquez, the journey has not been a bed of roses. After enjoying success with Hyderabad FC, where he won the Indian Super League 2021-22 title, Marquez joined the Gaurs in 2023 and led them to the ISL Cup semifinals in consecutive seasons. However, he failed at the same stage on both occasions, losing to Mumbai City FC and Bengaluru FC, respectively. He also finished second in the race for the ISL League Shield this season, finishing behind Mohun Bagan Super Giant, which eventually ended up securing the domestic double. So, the trophy could not have come at a better time for Marquez, who will now exclusively coach the Indian men's national football team. The Spaniard lauded his current group of players for the harmony in the dressing room and affirmed that this was the reason for its success. 'This year, the group was very strong. They are friends more than teammates, which is very difficult to find,' Marquez said. 'I feel that this club may not be the best in India in terms of titles. But in terms of organisation, I think FC Goa is the best,' he added. When asked about FCG's chances of enjoying success next season in the league and on the continental level, Marquez urged the need for the club to hold onto its players. 'Speaking from my experience in India, continuity is very, very important. Now, in modern football, with the agents, the players move around constantly,' said Marquez. 'But if you get to keep the same group of players, usually the results are better every season. I believe that it would be a big mistake to destroy this group,' he signed off.
