Tag: Kolkata

AFC Cup : Kuwait SC defeats East Bengal 4-2 – Away goals provide a glimmer of hope

Leave a comment

Kf_east_bengal_logoKuwait SC defeated East Bengal 4-2 in the first leg of AFC Cup semfinal that took place in Kuwait.

The match started off slowly and East Bengal had the first shot on goal when Chidi’s tame shot was stopped by the Kuwait SC goal keeper. Then on Kuwait SC dominated the proceedings all through the 1st half of the match. They opened scoring in the 17th minute through Issam Jemaa, he went to add another one in the 33rd minute and Waleed Ali made it 3-0 before the half-time whistle.

When play resumed after the break, thanks to East Bengal custodian Gurpreet’s silly mistake Kuwait SC increased their tally to four through Chadi Hammami’s simple tap in.  At that stage it looked like Kuwait SC is heading to a massive victory.

However East Bengal managed to turn around the match partially by scoring two crucial away goals after their Brazilian coach Marcos Falopa brought in two substitutions.  One among the substitutes Lalrindika Ralte swung in a very good corner kick which was headed in by Uga Okpara in the 66th minute. In the 87th minute Lalrindika Ralte himself got on the score sheet with a superbly taken goal.

While Kuwait SC home stadium was almost barren with only a handful of supporter cheering them, they will come across a different proposition when they visit Kolkota in the second leg of the semi-final on October 22nd. With good home support and if East Bengal can replicate their second half performance in Kuwait they stand a slender chance to overturn this tie.

Team line-up and stats here.

Watch all the goals from the match here. Due credits to the folks at Indian Football home.

IMG – Reliance league auctions to be held by October end

Leave a comment
Image Courtesy : http://www.sportzpower.com/

Image Courtesy : http://www.sportzpower.com/

Reports suggest that the auctions for the IMG – Reliance IPL style league would be held by October end. The tournament modeled on Indian Premier League, will have eight franchises across the country.

Two auctions, one for the franchisees and the other for players will be held at the end of October. The tournament will be held between January 18 and March 30 of the next year. Supposedly 20 corporates have expressed their interest in franchises.

Every franchise will have 10 foreign players including a marquee player, 7 Indians and 4 U-21 players in their roster. IMG – Reliance have shortlisted nine cities across India – Guwahati, Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Goa, Bangalore, Chennai and Kochi, out of which one will be dropped later.

Reports also suggest that after numerous rounds of discussion with the I-league clubs, both parties have agreed upon a middle ground.

Read more : Indian football auctions to be held soon

Joaquim Abranches to become the only Indian player to have played two AFC Cup Semi finals

Leave a comment
Image Courtesy : http://i-league.org

Image Courtesy : http://i-league.org

Joaquim Abranches will earn the distinction of being the only Indian player to have played two AFC Cup Semi finals,  as East Bengal appears in this year’s AFC Cup semi final.

Abrnaches appeared in the semi final of AFC Cup earlier with Dempo in 2008.

Here is a nice article on how Armando Colaco who discovered Joaquim Abrnaches is excited about his protege : Colaco smiles in Abranches’ moment of glory

Tolgay Ozbey ecstatic but Luciano Sabrosa out for at least a month!

Leave a comment
Image : http://www.footballnsw.com.au

Image : http://www.footballnsw.com.au

Tolgay Ozbey, the Turkish descent Australian footballer was visibly ecstatic after a sparkling performance from him guided Mohammedan Sporting to victory in the 126th edition of Durand cup.

“It’s taken a great toll on my body having played four matches in eight days. But if this is the outcome, then I am ready to sacrifice and bear the pain over and over again,”  he said to NDTV.

However injury to Luciano Sabrosa dampened the spirits a bit. It looks like he will be out for at least six weeks.

Read more :  Mohammedan Sporting can win big matches, now proved: Tolgay Ozbey

 

Mohammedan Sporting win Durand Cup after 73 years

Leave a comment
Image : ndtv.com

Image : ndtv.com

Mohammedan Sporting, the 122 year old Kolkata club won the 126th edition of the prestigious Durand Cup.  Sporting defeated ONGC 2-1 in the finals. They last won the cup before independence in 1940 when they defeated the Warwickshire Regiment. Durand Cup is Asia’s oldest football tournament.

Australian striker Tolgay Ozebey was the hero for Mohammedan sporting by setting up a goal in the 36th minute and scoring one in the 44th minute. ONGC scored a goal in the 56th minute through free-kick but couldn’t eventually match sporting

Read more : Mohammedan Sporting create history, win Durand Cup after 73 years

 

Star Jalsha Movies’ impressive coverage of Calcutta Football League

Leave a comment

News 2 350X250We have been hearing about the great coverage by Star Jalsha Movies of the ongoing Calcutta Football League.

Reports suggest that Star Jalsha Movies is using ten cameras including one on each goal posts and helicopter shots of the stadium to reach out to the 80 lakh viewers of the league.

Two former Indian players Debjit Ghosh and Rajat Ghosh Dastidar are the commentators and the glamor quotient is added by the presence of Tollywood star Diva Sayoni as the presenter.CFL_Logo

While high-quality lenses and sound capturing devices provide superb picture quality and excellent sonic experience, two mascots in Phuchka and Goleda brings in the fun factor.

1 2 3