The I-League is more demanding as a football competition than the Indian Super League (ISL), says Mohun Bagan’s new recruit defender Anas Edathodika.

“The I-League is tougher than the ISL,” Edathodika told reporters at the club ground after joining training ahead of their league opener against Churchill Brothers at the Rabindra Sarovar Stadium.

“There are so many foreigners who play in the ISL and they are top class players. The I-League has more Indians and there is more competition. Last year I did not play in the I-League. This year I am keen to make a mark,” Edathodika, who has been loaned from ISL franchise Delhi Dynamos, added.

On his reason to play for Mohun Bagan, the former Mumbai FC and Pune FC player said, “It’s a big challenge as this is a big club. I am happy to get an opportunity here. I have to work really hard.”

Edathodika acknowledged that it won’t be easy to break into the first team.

“Players like Kingshuk (Debnath), Raju (Gaikwad) bhai are there. So it won’t be easy to break into the first XI. In my football career, in 2009 and 2010 people used to tell me, once you have to play in Kolkata. I have played for four years in Mumbai and four years in Pune.”

“Jo Paul Ancheri (former India captain and Mohun Bagan academy coach) told me it’s a big club and advised me to play here. Last year he was asking me whether I am coming or not,” revealed the sturdy stopper-back who impressed in the third edition of the ISL.

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) Player of the Year Jeje Lalpekhlua, who also joined training on Wednesday, said he wants to replicate Bengaluru FC’s Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup success for his club this season.

“When Bengaluru FC played in the AFC Cup final, it was a good advertisement for Indian football. So, hopefully our target this season should be to do well in the AFC Cup as well,” Jeje, who has been prolific for Mohun Bagan last season, said.

Bengaluru became the first Indian club to reach the AFC Cup final last year, losing to Air Force Club of Iraq in the summit clash.

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A galaxy of VVIPs, including none other than Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan, his actor son Abhishek Bacchan and rival finalists team co-owners, cricket icons Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly, stole the show ahead of the Indian Super League (ISL) final.

All these celebrities arrived at different times, early in the day at the Kochi international airport and were received at the airport by a huge number of fans who were seen cheering each of them.

While Tendulkar, who co-owns the Kerala Blasters team, did not react to the questions posed by the media, his former captain Ganguly, who co-owns the Kolkatta team, said that, in the league stage, his team had beaten Kerala Blaster.

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ISL’s promoter Football Sports Development Limited’s founder and chairperson Nita Ambani, who arrived early in the day said she was excited at seeing the huge Kochi crowd and said may the best team win.

Bollywood megastar Amitabh hoped the boisterous Kerala crowd which was a sellout for the final between Kerala Blasters and Atletico de Kolkata (ATK) sets the template for everyone across the country.

“I have not seen such a big crowd,” Bachchan said during half-time. “The kind of enthusiasm I see here in Kerala is amazing. I really want to thank Nita (Ambani) ji for bringing it to such a large level.

“I hope this continues and may this crowd be an example for the rest of India,” Big B, whose son Abhishek is the co-owner of defending champions Chenaiyin FC, added.

The senior Bachchan has been to ISL venues supporting Chennaiyin with his son and daughter-in-law Aishwarya Rai Bachchan.

“With Tendulkar and his Mumbai team flying down the big names in the Bollywood industry, the Mollywood (Malayalam film industry) stars might not be that enthusiastic,” said an ISL official when asked why the Malayalam stars are not present in good numbers.

But upcoming Malayalam star Nivin Pauly arrived at the Kochi Blaster’s hotel here to wish the team the best — as did former Union Minister of Civil Aviation Praful Patel.

–IANS

Atletico de Kolkata claimed their second Indian Super League (ISL) football title in three years bettering Kerala Blasters 4-3 (1-1) on penalty shootout in a lack-lustre final.

The match was tied in 1-1 at the break and after 90 minutes of regulation time. Mohammed Rafi put the hosts ahead in the 37th minute and Henrique Sereno Fonseca equalised seven minutes later at the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium.

Jewel Raja turned out to be the jewel in ATK’s crown,r calmly dispatching the last penalty, after Sameehg Doutie, Borja Fernandez and Javi Lara all converted their spot kicks. Only Iain Hume’s shot was blocked by Kerala custodian Graham Stack.

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The home team took first strike in the shootout. Antonio German, Kervens Belfort and Mohammed Rafique scored while Elhadji Ndoye blasted over from 18 yards and Cedric Hengbart’s shot was acrobatically saved by ATK goalkeeper Debjit Majumder.

ATK also defeated Kerala in the final of the inaugural edition of the tournament in 2014.

The match received an early dose of pace with chances created at both ends, but poor technique coupled with signs of nervousness, prevented the two team’s premier forwards from capitalising on the opportunity.

Kerala forward Kervens Belfort outran India international Pritam Kotal and found the in-form C.K. Vineeth free on the left, who undid the good work with poor technique.

The ball was quickly hurled towards ATK’s star striker Iain Hume, who peeled away from his marker but was equally wayward in controlling the ball.

ATK gradually emerged stronger with Hume combining with his team’s marquee goal scorer Helder Postiga. The Portuguese had a crack at goal from an acute angle but his effort went wide in the 14th minute.

ATK’s Jewel Raja was creating a positive impression in midfield over his senior state-mate Mehtab Hossain, snatching the ball from him on several occasions, to bring winger Sameehg Doutie into action, whose crisp half-volley was blocked three minutes later.

Kerala’s forward movement was channelised only through Belfort, the Haitian’s dragging his free-kick over the bar.

ATK’s offensive movement was more united with Lalrindika Ralte also getting into the act, helping Postiga reach favourable positions from where he could shoot at goal.

But for all their supposed supremacy, it was ATK who conceded first, from a set-piece movement that looked increasingly the only way they could score.

Mehtab’s corner was guided in powerfully by Mohammed Rafi, who rose admirably above Kotal, and diverted the ball past an outstretched goalkeeper Debjit Majumder.

Kerala’s sense of supremacy due to their obtained lead seemed accidental and ATK’s equaliser, just a minute before the breather by Henrique Sereno Fonseca, was deserved as they appeared more likely to score from open play.

ATK though had to resort to a corner to get level, Sereno outmuscling defender Sandesh Jhingan to direct his header past Stack.

The narrative, after the change of ends, remained pretty similar to the first session, Belfort being the focal point of Kerala’s attacks and ATK trying a more organised and holistic approach for goal.

The ball moved to and fro, but without any real purpose or conviction, and inability to carve open cautious defences led to both teams trying long range efforts.

The match settled into a mediocre rhythm. ATK coach Jose Molina tried to inject some energy into his team by replacing a tiring Postiga with Javi Lara.

The pace of the proceedings dropped noticeably, with players suffering cramps in the hot and humid weather conditions. As the match meandered towards the end of regulation time, neither team could create definite scoring opportunities.

The extra-time was more of a forced exercise on the players. Neither team were ready to go for the jugular, wary of getting caught on the break, preferring to keep ball possession to neutralise goal-bound threat.

Penalties seemed inevitable and the only reasonable solution to the iron-gripped deadlock. And when it happened, in due course, ATK emerged stronger at the fag end, just as they did in 2014 when they won courtesy an added time goal.

–IANS

Ten-man Atletico de Kolkata (ATK) showed grit of the highest order to see off Mumbai City FC in a 0-0 draw in the semi-final second leg and sail into the Indian Super League (ISL) final with a 3-2 aggregate victory in the tie.

ATK led Mumbai 3-2 from the first offing in Kolkata and needed just a draw to edge out their rivals, who despite topping the league table, bowed out of the competition after reaching the knockout stages for the first time.

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This is the second time the inaugural champions ATK reached the final of the tournament, a first under coach Jose Molina who took over the reins from Antonio Habas this season. Habas led ATK to their first title in 2014.

ATK played more than 45 minutes without full-back Robert Lalthlamuana who was sent off for a second booking near the end of the first half.

A brawl broke out after the match when ATK’s Juan Beloncoso was tripped by Mumbai’s Leo Costa. Several players got involved in separate altercations when Belencoso reacted in an ugly manner prompting Thiago Cunha from the Mumbai bench to attempt a kung-fu kick at the Spaniard.

Kolkata players and backroom staff members chased Cunha after that, capping off an unprecedented incident which saw Cunha and Beloncoso handed red cards.

ATK will now take on either Kerala Blasters or Delhi Dynamos who play in the second leg of the other semi-final on Wednesday.

In the contest at the Mumbai Football Arena, it took seven minutes for the hosts to get a look in but India captain Sunil Chhetri was guilty of spurning a one-on-one chance with an onrushing goalkeeper Debjit Mazumder keeping the Bengaluru FC forward at bay.

ATK’s first real opportunity came near the half-hour mark when Javi Lara found Abhinash Ruidas with acres of space with the winger’s cross finding Belencoso inside the area. Mumbai goalkeeper Amrinder Singh sneaked in to punch the ball away but not out of danger as a lurking Lalrindika Ralte — who replaced Bidyananda Singh in the 14th minute — took a swipe at goal only for Lalhmangaihsanga Ralte to effect an important block.

The match was characterised by frayed tempers which was not unexpected with so much at stake in the second leg. But things reached boiling point when Lalthlamuana picked up his second yellow card near half-time to trudge down the tunnel and leave the visitors to fend with ten men.

He was guilty of fouling Matias Defederico for the red before picking up his first booking in the 34th minute.

Molina ringed in a tactical change in a bid to bottle up their rivals who needed to score in order to harbour any hopes of turning the tables on ATK. Full-back Keegan Pereira came in place of winger Ruidas.

ATK had a chance to strengthen their hold on the game when Belencoso had a chance of converting a good-looking Lara cross across the face of goal but failed to get anything on it.

Stephen Pearson also skewed a gilt-edged chance over the bar on the volley.

With two minutes remaining to the final whistle, Lucian Goian failed to connect from close first followed by a swinging volley which was saved by Debjit.

Chhetri also had a chance to put the ball behind the net from a header but failed in his attempt as the hosts walked away frustrated.

IANS

Kerala Blasters rode on a strike from Kervens Belfort to defeat Delhi Dynamos 1-0 in the first leg of their Indian Super League semi-final on Sunday.

Belfort scored the winner in the 65th minute as Kerala registered their sixth consecutive win at their home ground.

The Haiti international picked up the ball in the Kerala half, made a long run into the opponent penalty box and dribbled past a defender before unleashing a shot which took a lucky deflection off Delhi defender Anas Edathodika and went in at the near post.

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Kerala will thus take a slender but important advantage into the second leg to be played at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Delhi on Wednesday.

Kerala were on a five-match winning streak at their home ground before this match and they seemed to be in good shape for this encounter.

With Mehtab Hossain returning from suspension and Josu Prieto also back in the starting XI, Kerala were at their best.

Delhi Dynamos too looked good at start with all players being available and they almost silenced the huge crowd in the first minute itself.

A long hopeful ball from midfield saw Delhi’s Florent Malouda take aim but a clearance saw the ball fall for Kean Lewis. Before the Delhi Dynamos winger could try his luck, Kerala defender Cedric Hengbart deflected the ball away for a corner.

A minute later, it was Kerala’s turn to give Delhi a scare. From a counter attack, Belfort ran the length of the pitch and set it up for an unmarked C.K. Vineeth.

There was Duckens Nazon to his left but the in-form India striker chose to go for goal and instead ended up hitting the side netting from close range.

Delhi took time to show their attacking strength and top scorer Marcelinho Pereira went close in the 35th minute. The Brazilian did well to push his way past Mehtab Hossain and Didier Kadio, but Kerala goalkeeper Sandip Nandy proved equal to the challenge.

Kerala thought they had scored their opening goal and the stadium erupted in joy just before half time when an attempted back pass by Delhi’s Marcos Tébar saw Belfort intercept the ball and put it into the net.

But that celebration proved to be premature as the assistant referee ruled that Belfort had handled the ball while attempting to receive it.

But Belfort was not to be denied in the second session.

The 24-year-old striker picked up a pass from Cédric Hengbart near the centre line, ran quite a distance with the ball, sidestepped defender Ruben Gonzalez Rocha and unleashed a shot with only Delhi goalkeeper Antonio Doblas to beat.

The attempt was not powerful enough but a deflection from the sliding Anas Edathodika was enough to catch Doblas on the wrong foot and the ball went in at the near post.

Delhi’s response was strong with Malouda testing the rival goalkeeper and 10 minutes later, Kerala survived their biggest scare.

A corner kick from Malouda saw the Kerala Defence head it out but the ball came back for Tebar who lobbed it into the six-yard box where Marcelinho headed it dangerously towards goal but Hengbart proved to be Kerala’s saviour by heading it off the line.

The match was marred by violent scenes towards the the fag end when the referee denied Delhi what seemed to be a very strong case for a penalty.

Kerala’s star defender Sandesh Jhingan brought down Marcelinho inside the hosts’ penalty box during second half injury time. But the referee did not find anything wrong with the challenge and showed a yellow card to Delhi’s Richard Gadze for protesting.

That incident coupled with an off the ball foul on Marcelo Pereira by Kerala’s Didier Boris Kadio saw emotions boil over in the Delhi camp and the two sets of players indulged in a physical confrontation at the final whistle.

IANS

Kerala Blasters booked their ticket to the semi-finals in style, forcing a 1-0 victory over NorthEast United FC in an Indian Super League football match at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.

The match was a virtual quarter-final as the victorius team was poised to advance to the semis.

Kerala will face Delhi while Mumbai City FC will take on Atleticode Kolkata in the two legged semi-final.

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Striker C.K. Vineeth continued his rich form with the winner in the 66th minute to show their rivals, who needed to win in order to topple Kerala, the door. Vineeth became the highest Indian scorer in the process with five strikes to his name.

Mohammed Rafi came closest to doubling the margin in the dying minutes of the match when his header was deflected on to the crosspiece by goalkeeper Graham Stack.

Kerala were without the services of Josue Currais Prieto and midfielder Mehtab Hossain, who was replaced by Azrack Mahamat, NorthEast missed Nicolas Velez.

In the fourth minute, the hosts had a chance to nose ahead when Duckens Nazon picked up the ball down the left channel and dribbled inside the box, but his effort found Rehenesh palming the ball out.

NorthEast’s Seityasen Singh looked good down the flanks, constantly testing the rival defenders with incisive runs.

At halftime, it was goalless.

NorthEast’s Emiliano Alfaro had two good chances after the break near the hour mark, the second one being a one-on-one situation with goalkeeper Graham Stack after Seityasen Singh had set the Uruguayan up.

Kerala soon took the lead through Vineeth. The local lad, in prime form, netted his fifth goal in six matches with a crisp strike from just inside the box cutting in to his left and scoring at the far post with superb placement.

It was all Kerala thereafter as they strung together a flurry of attacks and came close to doubling their lead as substitute Antonio German found Rehenesh parrying away his stinging shot.

For the visitors, Seityasen and Romaric tried hard to level proceedings with Alfaro coming closest with an effort with fizzed off the post.

IANS

Atletico de Kolkata (ATK) ended their group stage engagements with their eighth draw of the Indian Super League (ISL) football tournament in a 0-0 tie against FC Pune City at the Rabindra Sarovar stadium.

Pune coach Antonio Lopez Habas failed to win both the group stage matches against his former employers as both sides fired blanks in an otherwise inconsequential encounter.

The hosts, who have alreadt qualified for the semi-finals, have 20 points from 14 outings while Pune bowed out with 16.

ATK forward Juan Belencoso missed four clear-cut chances in both halves while the visitors failed to create many in a turgid affair.

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ATK will now have to wait to learn their semi-final opponents as table-toppers Mumbai City FC and Delhi Dynamos lock horns on Saturday.

As expected, the hosts made wholesale changes to the team that drew 1-1 against Kerala Blasters. The likes of Helder Postiga, Borja Fernandes and Iain Hume were given rest while Henrique Sereno and Debjit Mazumder were also made to cool their heels.

Pune keeper Arindam Bhattacharya was called into action as soon the fifth minute when he palmed away a stinging Javi Lara free-kick saved after a darting run by Abhinash Ruidas down the left flank was pockmarked by Rahul Bheke.

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Minutes later, Javi Lara had acres of space in front of him to run at the rival defence but Arindam again pulled off a good save to deny the in-form Spaniard.

ATK looked the likelier of the two sides to take the lead as Belencoso first side-netted a Ruidas cross to follow it up with an effort over the bar after some slick play saw Ruidas feed the profligate Spaniard inside the box.

Pune had their only chance at the half-hour mark when Anibal Rodriguez missed from the edge of the box. The first half ended goalless.

Belencoso missed another golden opportunity six minutes into the second period when the tall striker headed wide a Bidyananda Singh cross from handshaking distance.

Pune got two chances in quick succession but both substitute Dramane Traore (introduced in place of Momar Ndoye in the 72nd minute) and Sanju Pradhan missing.

ATK coach Jose Molina replaced Jewel Raja to bring in Stephen Pearson, who minutes after coming on, was part of a twin miss.

First the Scotsman’s shot from just inside the box was parried away by Arindam but only as far as a lurking Belencoso who somehow conspired to muff one of the easiest of chances.

Hume was brought on in the dying minutes of the match but the score remained unchanged.

IANS

FC Goa scripted a pulsating 5-4 victory against Chennaiyin in their final Indian Super League (ISL) football clash.

Both teams have failed to qualify for the semifinals and were only playing for pride at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.

Chennaiyin took lead three times but Goa restored parity every time and went ahead in the 76th minute for the first time in the match .

Rafael Coelho put Goa in lead, scoring his second goal of the game. But Chennaiyin drew level in the 88th minute after substitute John Arne Riise converted a penalty.

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The match was moving towards a 3-3 draw until Sahil Tavora netted in added time.

FC Goa scored through a brace each from Rafael Coelho (6th minute, 76th), Sahil Tavora (68th and 90th) and Joffre Gonzalez (21st). Chennaiyin FC found the mark through Jerry Lalrinzuala (4th), Gregory Arnolin (own goal, 14th), Dudu Omagbemi (28th) and John Arne Riise (88th).

Chennaiyin led 3-2 at half-time.

The victory took Goa’s points tally to 14 but they still finished at the bottom of the table. Defending champions Chennaiyin finished seventh with 15 points in an extremely disappointing campaign for both last year’s finalists.

Chennaiyin surged ahead in the fourth minute itself when Jerry scored from a free-kick to dazzle goalkeeper Laxmikant Kattimani but Goa soon equalised as Coelho got hold of a through ball from Joffre Gonalez and then scored with ease.

Chennaiyin took the lead for the second time in the 14th minute when Anirudh Thapa’s shot that hit the post, struck Goa defender Gregory Arnolin and sailed into the net. Just like the first setback, Goa drew level for the second time, this time Joffre scoring from a penalty.

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The visitors enjoyed a 3-2 advantage at half-time as Dudu Omagbemi capitalised on a defensive lapse in the 28th minute.

In the second session, coach Zico made a couple of changes and Goa not just equalised through Sahil Tavora but also moved up for the first time as Rafael Coelho gave finishing touches to a brilliant long ball from Trindade Goncalves in the 76th minute.

The goal seemed enough for Goa to pocket full points as they fell back and defended but there was disappointment as Raju Gaikwad handled the ball, prompting the referee to award a penalty which Riise scored with ease.

Just when it seemed like the match would end in a draw, Sahil Tavora scored from the left, as his shot kissed the post and sailed into the net.

IANS

Delhi Dynamos fought back from a goal down to thump on FC Goa 5-1 in the Indian Super League clash on Sunday.

Brazilian striker Marcelinho Pereira scored a superb hat-trick with goals in the 38th, 48th and 56th minute while Richard Gadze scored the other two goals to help Delhi inch closer to a place in the semi-finals.

Delhi, which have now moved to the second spot with 20 points from 12 matches, however, are not yet guaranteed of a semi-final spot as yet as three other teams (Kerala Blasters, Atletico de Kolkata and NorthEast United) can all overtake their points tally if results go their way. Delhi requires two point from their last two matches to stand a chance of qualification to play-offs.

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In the first half of the Sunday match at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, the teams were tied 1-1 after Fulganco Cardozo gave Goa the lead in the 31st minute but Marcelinho equalised seven minutes later. Delhi’s domination in the second session, however, stunned FC Goa as they conceded four goals in nine minutes.

Goa surged ahead just after half an hour’s play through Fulganco who tapped the ball inside an empty goal. Delhi equalised within seven minutes from a well-worked free-kick.

Florent Malouda chose to slide a ball through for Pereira on the left and the Brazilian striker made no mistake slamming the ball past Goa goalkeeper Laxmikant Kattimani.

In the second session, there was a complete transformation as Delhi scored four goals in nine minutes. Pereira started Delhi’s goal run in the 48th minute. He got a ball about 25 yards out, cut past Richarlyson who was marking him and then sent a rasping drive that beat Kattimani for the second time.

Gadze scored his first of the night in the 51st minute after Pereira turned provider and the Brazilian himself completed his hat-trick in the 56th minute. Gadze made it 5-1 in the 57th minute, beating the challenge of Raju Gaekwad and scored his second goal of the night.

The defeat left FC Goa rooted to the bottom with 11 points from 13 matches and they will be hugely embarrassed after suffering their biggest defeat in ISL.

IANS

Kerala Blasters on Friday defeated Pune City FC 2-1 to collect crucial three points in their push for the Indian Super League (ISL) football semi-final qualification.

Kerala rode on goals from Duckens Nazon (7th minute) and Aaron Hughes (57th) to climb to the third spot in the standings. Anibal Zurdo managed to halve the deficit from a free-kick for Pune in the closing minutes of the match.

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It was Kerala’s fourth straight victory that put them level with second-placed Atletico de Kolkata on points but are behind on goal difference. Pune’s chances of qualifying for the semis now appear slim after their latest setback.

It was Kerala’s penultimate home match of the Indian Super League (ISL) season. And they were on the front foot right from the kick-off, keeping the Pune defence busy.

Kerala Blasters coach Steve Coppell made several changes to the team that got clobbered in Mumbai with marquee player Aaron Hughes back into the squad, alongside Kervens Belfort, Duckens Nazon, Mohammed Rafi and goalkeeper Sandip Nandy.

Pune made three changes to their side but, playing at home, Kerala started the match on the front foot.

Kerala’s attacking front-men of C.K. Vineeth, Nazon, Mohammed Rafi and Kervens Belfort were interlinking well to cause trouble for Pune.

They duly went ahead in the seventh minute. Nazon made a solo run after intercepting a ill-timed form Pune defender Dharmaraj Ravanan and duly converted stroking the ball into the net away from the clutches of Pune goalkeeper Edel Bete.

Pune tried to fight their way back but Kerala were always in control of the proceedings.

A corner in the 57th minute was only partially cleared by Pune City and Vineeth chased it down on the left, sending a cross to the far post. The Pune defence shockingly stood still, allowing Aaron enough time to rush and head home from point blank range.

The goal crippled Pune, who however managed to pull a goal back in stoppage time. A cleverly taken free-kick set up Anibal Zurdo, who blasted it on to the far post, past goalkeeper Sandip Nandy.

The goal, however, came too late and there was no time for Pune City to get anything out of the match.

IANS