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Pep Guardiola is the best coach in the world, says former Barcelona captain Vicky Losada, who has described herself as feeling ‘very lucky’ to have met him.

The 30-year-old midfielder admired Guardiola as a player growing up, with a lack of visibility of women’s football in Spain meaning there was a lack of female role models on show.

Losada has certainly established herself as one in her career though, becoming the first Barcelona captain to lift the UEFA Women’s Champions League title in the summer, before her move to Manchester City.

What has been said?

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Goal, Losada said of Pep: "For me, he is the best coach in the world. I would love to spend more time with him or even have a chat or a coffee. I feel very lucky to have met him.

“It's true that he's one of the players I used to look up to when I was a little girl. I didn't have girls to look at, [women’s football] wasn't on TV at the time and in the end I feel lucky to be here, to be able to enjoy him, to go to the Etihad every weekend and enjoy the boys as well.”

Losada herself has left a huge mark at Barcelona too, just like Guardiola, something she was reminded of on Saturday, after scoring her first goal for City in a 4-0 win over Everton.

“It's true that when I left Barca, the most beautiful thing for me - not just winning the Champions League - is the affection with which I left,” she explained.

“I was surprised by the number of messages I received on my mobile phone after the game congratulating me, from people who really appreciate me and who showed in those moments that they really appreciated me and helped me a lot.”

‘Real Madrid will give a lot of fight’

Losada’s first opponent in a City shirt was one with familiar faces, the Manchester club drawing Real Madrid in a UWCL second qualifying round tie.

Las Blancas played very well in the first leg, in their first year in Europe, and could have won the game had they not wasted a large number of chances. Instead, it finished all square at 1-1.

“They have made some very good signings, important signings, there is a lot of talent,” Losada noted of the opponent, who City face in the second leg, at home, on Wednesday.

“It's a competitive team. I think it's going to give a lot of fight in [the league]. It's a good thing that teams are starting to get closer to the level of Barca, that they continue to support women's football so that the Spanish league improves.

“I think it's going to be an interesting league. Barca, last year, competed very well and it's very difficult to keep up. I know they are very competitive, very ambitious and a great team. It's going to be interesting to see how they face, this season, [teams] like Real Madrid, Levante, Atletico Madrid.

“I liked it the other day when I saw them. I think it's going to be a more competitive season and I think it's good for women's football.

“I think the game we played in Madrid was not one of our best. It is true that it was the first in which we played together. In the end it is an honour to be in a team that had 14 girls representing their country in Tokyo [for the Olympics]. It has been a bit of a strange pre-season. We had a few players for two months. The game against Everton was completely different.

“Every day we are improving and I think Wednesday's game is the perfect stage to continue to grow and continue to give a good performance.”

What are Manchester City’s objectives this season?

After winning the treble last year with Barcelona, Losada also spoke of what the aims are in Manchester.

“Right now, to be in the group stage of the Champions League, without a doubt,” she said, citing the short-term goals. That will be secured on Wednesday, should City beat Real Madrid.

"In the long term, we have to go game by game, compete [in] absolutely every game, and hopefully win the league title,” she added.

Further reading

Bafana Bafana striker Bongokuhle Hlongwane has stated the win against Ghana in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers on Monday at the FNB Stadium brought hope to a country that had no hope before.

Hlongwane scored the only goal of the game late in the second half to give South Africa their first win in Group G, and the 21-year-old has explained the impact of the victory on the nation.

"I’m happy about the win and I’m sure it will bring hope to the country at large because there has been no hope," Hlongwane told the media as per Sowetan Live.

"People have been watching the national team, but there was nothing good happening, it was always negative stuff all the time.

"I hope the win has brought joy, but the job is not done because there are so many games remaining in the qualifiers. In those games, we have to work and use it to our advantage."

Hlongwane would hope to be part of the national team set-up for a very long time after head coach Hugo Broos revealed his desire to build Bafana Bafana around youngsters.

"You know, one day you have to give [young players] the chance. You hear people say, 'coach but they are not experienced'," Broos said in an earlier interview.

"But when is a young boy experienced, when he does not play. So, one day you have to give him a chance and I will do that here, from the first day that I'm here in South Africa, to give the young players a chance.

"But they have to take the chance and I think I can take the example of Ethan Brooks. He had a very, very good game, so he took the chance."

Hlongwane's Maritzburg United - winless in the Premier Soccer League - will be in action on Saturday against Baroka and the striker has shifted focus from the national side to the club, hoping to produce a good result.

"Even here at Maritzburg, I have work to do and help the club because on Saturday we are playing,’’ he added. 

"The national team part is over and I’m here to focus on my club and do well so the team can progress."

Victor Osimhen’s two-game ban for violent conduct against Daan Heymans during a Serie A game against Venezia has been rescinded following a successful appeal by Napoli.

The Nigeria international was sent off during the first half of the Blues’ 2-0 victory by referee Gianluca Aureliano last month after he appeared to have hit Heymans during a corner kick.

That was the second time the former Wolfsburg and Lille man had been sent off since the commencement of his professional career.

He was issued a red card for the first time during a Uefa Europa League clash against Real Sociedad at the Reale Arena on October 29, 2020.

Subsequently, he was barred from featuring in his club’s league against Genoa, which the two-time Serie A won at the Stadio Comunale Luigi Ferraris.

“Napoli have successfully appealed to the Sports Court of Appeal to reduce Victor Osimhen’s suspension from two games to one,” a statement from the club website read.

“Given that the striker already served the first match of the suspension against Genoa, he will be available for selection this weekend.”

This decision is a big boost for Luciano Spalletti’s men who welcome Juventus to the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in Saturday’s blockbuster Italian elite division encounter.

Prior to this reversal, former Napoli striker Emanuele Calaio had opined that the punishment was extreme, insisting that the Super Eagle’s behaviour was natural.

"The expulsion to Osimhen? Already last year it was felt that the character of the Nigerian was a bit too steamy,” Calaio told Radio Kiss Kiss.

“A thick striker must also have the lucidity to be quiet in certain moments of the race. But the expulsion was excessive.

“In football, you also see much worse and without red cards. Aureliano was in confusion during the race also in the management of the cards against the Venezia players.

“Osimhen's behaviour was instinctive: he had been restrained and yanked, the defenders do everything to provoke. I also happened to push away the defenders because they kept my shirt.”

Should Osimhen get the nod to play against the Old Lady, the 24-year-old would be hoping to score his maiden goal of the season after he scored 10 goals in 24 Serie A matches during the 2020-21 campaign.

Thomas Muller has defended Bayern Munich's summer transfer raids on their rivals, pointing to Paris Saint-Germain and their retention of Kylian Mbappe as proof that teams are under no obligation to sell.

The Bundesliga champions launched a double raid on coach Julian Nagelsmann's former club RB Leipzig, drafting both Dayot Upamecano and Marcel Sabitzer into their ranks at the Allianz Arena.

While Bayern have begun the season unbeaten, Leipzig have won just one of their first three games - but Muller says that any accusation of sabotaging rivals is preposterous. 

Whay has been said?

"No way," the Germany stalwart told Sport Bild when asked if the move to purchase the duo was an intentional strategy to hinder Leipzig's chances of challenging for the Bundesliga title.

"No club has an obligation to sell. Look at PSG and Mbappe. Like every club, we're on the lookout for quality that fits into our budget.

"It's normal to look around for options in the same league. There have always been transfers that are hotly debated, and that's a good thing."

The bigger picture

Muller's comments refer to PSG's refusal to cash in on Mbappe amid heavy interest from Real Madrid - despite the France star entering the final year of his deal and refusing to sign a new one.

It means that the Ligue 1 side stand to miss out on a huge windfall for the striker if he chooses to move on next season, though Mauricio Pochettino's side may hope to convince him to stay.

Muller, meanwhile, will be out to secure another Bundesliga crown, after the Hansi Flick era came to a close with another triumph last season.

Further reading

Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman has admitted that the hectic business carried out by the club on deadline day was “a b*tch”.

Owing to their crippling levels of debt, the Blaugrana spent the majority of their transfer window attempting to lower their wage bill.

The cost-cutting exercise continued through to deadline day, with Antoine Griezmann departing the club and Luuk de Jong being brought in at the last minute.

What was said?

With moves for Griezmann and De Jong having gone to the wire in terms of when the paperwork was filed, Koeman told Sport: “The aggravation we had on the last day, with practically no time to find a solution, it was a b*tch. 

“Griezmann had a great contract and if he left it was going to help improve the financial situation of the club. That's why I agreed to his departure.”

The addition of De Jong, a classic number nine far from in keeping with the type of mobile striker Barca would normally sign, appeared to many as something of a panic move. Koeman, however, insists that is not the case.

“I had already spoken to [De Jong] in early August about the possibility of signing him,” the Dutchman said. “I wanted a forward different from what I had and I thought of him because I know him very well.

“In fact, I was wondering how it was possible that Barca never had a forward like Luuk. He is going to give us something different, especially with his aerial game and in set-pieces. With him, we can play a more direct style. I'm very happy with his signing.”

Key players still to return

The loss of Lionel Messi to PSG has obviously been a huge blow for Koeman, with the club relying massively on the Argentine's goal output.

With the onus now on the squad to spread the load in terms of goals, however, the head coach will soon be able to call on a clutch of attacking players that have been sidelined with injury - something he is very much looking forward to.

“I know [Ansu Fati] very well and I know what he can give us,” Koeman said of Barca's new No.10. “But we don't want to rush him, he has been standing still for a long time. There is still much to do – the same goes for Coutinho.

“I'm 100 per cent convinced that Coutinho has the talent to succeed at Barca, I like him a lot. The last injury he had was a strong blow for him and he has to recover well both physically and mentally to come back stronger than ever.

“[Ousmane] Dembele is a very, very good player if he is physically well. He is great in one-v-ones, has a lot of speed and can play on both wings. He will be vital for us when he recovers and I hope that he renews his contract.”

Further reading

FC Tulsa star Solomon Kwambe says Ahmed Musa’s 100th Nigeria cap is a reward for his dedication to Super Eagles’ cause.

The 28-year-old became an international centurion having featured in the three-time African champions’ 2-1 defeat of Cape Verde in Tuesday’s World Cup qualification encounter.

With that, he joined Vincent Enyeama and Joseph Yobo in the hallowed Nigeria ranks.

Weighing in on the Fatih Karagumruk star’s feat, Kwambe, who played with Musa in the senior national team between 2012 to 2016, claims it was not surprising to see his compatriot achieve that laudable feat.

“Musa deserves whatever he has achieved in Nigerian football so far because he is such a dedicated player who is always available when Super Eagles call,” he told Goal.

“Not until I read it in the news, I actually thought he had surpassed the 100 international caps mark because he has been in the national team setup for a long time.

“That been said, I strongly believe this feat is a reward for his dedication and unrivalled services to the senior national team. There will never be another Ahmed Musa.”

Kwambe also discusses what Musa’s presence means to the Nigerian national team and the virtues upcoming generations can garner from him.

“He is a team player, a friend of everybody and one who has a winner’s mentality. Be it a training match or competitive game, Musa wants to win all the time,” he continued.

“The younger generation has a lot to learn from him because Musa is humble, cool-headed and very accommodating.

“This personality is also exhibited during international matches as he tries in his own way to make everyone feel comfortable.

“I feel the current Super Eagles squad are very lucky to have him in their midst.”

Should the ex-CSKA Moscow and Leicester City player – who has 15 international goals to his credit - feature against the Central African Republic in October, he will match the mark set by Enyeama and Yobo.

Musa shot into international prominence after helping Nigeria U23 win the 2010 Wafu Nations Cup where he scored goals against Benin Republic and Burkina Faso.

He made his senior debut on August 5, 2010, in the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Madagascar.

Gerard Pique has revealed his relationship with Pep Guardiola "suffered" during their final season together at Barcelona, amid the player's relationship with Shakira and his manager's rivalry with Jose Mourinho.

The defender, one of the few players still with the club from the now-Manchester City manager's success-laden time at Camp Nou, says that he now enjoys a fruitful friendship with his old boss a decade on from their final season together.

But reflecting on their time together, the veteran centre-back has admitted that he came close to quitting the Blaugrana across a 2011-12 campaign that saw their bond tested by his love life and Mourinho, then in charge of Real Madrid.

What has been said?

“We reached an important point of tension with him, and with the dressing room in general," Pique told La Sotana.

“The rivalry with Jose Mourinho was very exhausting. Pep wanted absolute control of everything that happened.

“I started dating Shakira and the relationship with him changed; now the relationship is perfect. I had a lot of pressure. I felt that in training I had to do everything perfect.

“If there was a moment in which I thought about leaving Barca, it was that season 2011-12. I suffered a lot in this last year with him.”

Pique & Guardiola's time together

Having rejoined the club where he played his youth football from Manchester United in 2008, Pique became a cornerstone of Guardiola's tenure at Barcelona during their first season together.

The immediate success of a treble-winning campaign topped with Champions League glory set high expectations though, only exacerbated when former Chelsea boss Mourinho took charge of Real Madrid.

The strain of Guardiola and Mourinho's rivalry - culminating in Los Blancos' 2012 Liga win - forced the former into a year-long sabbatical, while Pique subsequently continued as a Barca mainstay with further triumphs.

The bigger picture

The 34-year-old - who has suggested he will remain with Barca until he retires - will look to help the club drive further up the table when the season resumes following the September international break.

Ronald Koeman's side lie fourth in La Liga, as they look to back up last year's Copa del Rey triumph with further success in a post-Lionel Messi era.

Guardiola, meanwhile, will continue to attempt to mount a defence of his side's Premier League title, after recovering from an opening weekend loss to Tottenham.

Further reading

The Football Kenya Federation has stated they are satisfied with Kenya’s performance in the opening two matches of the 2022 Fifa World Cup qualifiers.

The Harambee Stars started their Group E campaign to reach Qatar with a 0-0 draw against Uganda at Nyayo Stadium in Nairobi before securing another 1-1 draw against Rwanda at Nyamirambo Stadium in Kigali.

Despite the result raising questions among the local fans, most of whom felt the team should have at least won one game out of the two, the FKF has come out to defend the outcome, insisting they are still in the race to clinch a ticket to the global showpiece.

What did the FKF source say?

“It was not a bad outing from our team, considering how the other teams in the group played,” a top official at the FKF, who did not want to be named, told Goal on Wednesday.

“We managed two points out of two and Uganda also managed two points out of two and it means it is a tight group for every team, Mali beat Rwanda and also could not beat Uganda, I think Kenya did well, it was the opening two matches and with the team not training for long, we deserved what we got.

“I don’t think fans are right to ask for changes in the technical bench, they have just handled two matches and we have not lost any match, it is not good to keep changing the technical bench and why should we change it anyway, even after taking two points and we are now second on the table?

“Kenya has never been to the World Cup before so we should not put too many expectations on the bench, we need to give them time to do their job, maybe this is our time, we still have a chance, we can do it if we get a positive result away to Mali and back home in October.”

In a previous interview, Harambee Stars coach Jacob ‘Ghost’ Mulee maintained they are still in the race to make their first-ever appearance at the World Cup despite only having two points from the same number of matches.

“Otherwise it is not fair because looking at both sides not having won their first games and coming back to Rwanda and we pick up a point, it is tight but we are still in the race for the World Cup, it is just not done yet, so we are still on, two games played and we go to Morocco for the Mali game and that will determine which way it will go,” Mulee told Goal.

Further reading 

Former AFC Leopards striker Elvis Rupia has signed a one-year deal with a Saudi Arabian side Bisha FC, Goal understands.

"Rupia left the country over the weekend to complete the move to Bisha FC," a source close to the player told Goal.

"It is a rather short-term deal which will run for one year."

The striker scored 17 goals for AFC Leopards in the last season and was the second-best scorer in the Premier League behind Kariobangi Sharks' Erick Kapaito.

He had been called up for the World Cup qualifiers by Kenya head coach Jacob 'Ghost' Mulee, but he ended up withdrawing from the national team.

"He asked for permission from Mulee to skip the Uganda and Rwanda qualifiers in order to complete negotiations with Bisha," the source added.

"The coach granted him permission and that is why he was able to conclude talks and sign the contract. He was surely grateful for being given days off to negotiate with his suitors."

Rupia was replaced by Henry Meja - who also signed for AIK of Sweden for five years recently - in the national team as Kenya drew 0-0 against Uganda before a 1-1 draw against Rwanda.

Rupia's move to the Middle East means he has signed for a second foreign club in his career. After shining with Nzoia Sugar, he moved to Power Dynamos of Zambia in 2018, but he did not find his scoring touch and left the Super League side after a short period.

He signed for Wazito in July 2019, but he also failed to settle at the ambitious club. AFC Leopards moved to acquire his services in order to replace John Makwatta in 2020, who had left for Zesco United.

At Bisha, Rupia will feature in Saudi Arabia's second-tier after the club secured promotion last season where they had finished fourth in the third-tier. The forward has joined his international captain, Michael Olunga - who plays for Qatar's Al Duhail SC - in the Middle East.

Cristiano Ronaldo returned to Manchester United in the Premier League in a sensational transfer.

Reportedly, Ronaldo’s agent Jorge Mendes had offered the former Red Devils forward to Man City after the latter had missed out top target Harry Kane, but United pounced to bring the 36-year-old back to Old Trafford, where he starred between 2003 and 2009.

It is understood the deal which has been agreed is for an initial £13 million (€15m/$18m) with add-ons of up to £7m (€8m/$9m). 

Here's how to catch Cristiano Ronaldo in action with Manchester United from India: 

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When will Cristiano Ronaldo make his second Man Utd debut?

The Portuguese star is expected to make his second bow for the Red Devils on Saturday, September 11, in a Premier League fixture against Newcastle at Old Trafford. The match kicks off at 7:30 pm Indian time.

There were reports that Ronaldo could instead be making his full debut on Tuesday, September 14 in the Champions League against Young Boys, due to the striker having to isolate in accordance with Covid-19 rules following international duty with Portugal.

It was suggested that due to the limited time that Ronaldo would be able to train with his new teammates ahead of Saturday's game, Man United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer could delay his full debut until the Champions League fixture.

But Manchester United have excited supporters with an update of Ronaldo having joined training on September 7, hinting that the forward could very well still be set to make an appearance this weekend.

While they did not confirm that Ronaldo will certainly make his debut against the Magpies, they strongly clued in as such. 

"With challenges to come at home and abroad in the near future, including Saturday's Premier League match against Newcastle and next Tuesday's start of the Champions League at Young Boys, it is hoped the striker will be ready to assist the side and begin to have an immediate impact in his second spell at the club," a statement from the Man Utd official website read.

"With the rest of our international contingent due to return to Carrington in the coming days, the countdown is beginning in earnest to Saturday's 7:30 PM IST kick-off with the Magpies."

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How to watch Cristiano Ronaldo's second Man Utd debut in India?

The Star Sports network (Star Sports and Star Sports Select) has the rights to show Premier League matches in India.

In addition to the English Broadcast on Star Sports Select, regional feeds in Bangla and Malayalam will be made available for key weekend matches on Star Sports 3 (geo-tagged for West Bengal and Kerala) and Star Sports 1 Bangla.

Matches will also be available on streaming mobile applications  Disney+ Hotstar VIP  and  JioTV , allowing supporters to watch multiple games simultaneously and catch the replay of matches in their preferred language.

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What are Manchester United's Premier League fixtures this season?

The Red Devils began their Premier League 2021/22 season with a thumping 5-1 win over Leeds United followed by a 1-1 draw against Southampton. In their third game they got back to winning ways with a 1-0 win over Wolves/

*All Premier League matches may be streamed online on Disney+ Hotstar VIP/JioTV.

**Also available on Star Sports 3 (Malayalam/Bangla) and Star Sports 1 Bangla.

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Other key Manchester United fixtures this year:

Manchester United will be banking on Cristiano Ronaldo as they are handed the opportunity to gain revenge over Villarreal after being paired with their Europa League final vanquishers in Group F.

When are Man Utd's Champions League Group F clashes?

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The Indian football team recently played two international friendly matches on September 2 and 5 against Nepal in Nepal in the ongoing FIFA international window. While the Blue Tigers drew the first tie 1-1, they managed to beat the Gorkhalis 2-1 in the second friendly.

Till September 5, 2021, the India team has so far played seven international matches in the 2021 calendar year which includes four friendlies and three 20 World Cup and 2023 Asian Cup joint-qualifiers. They won two, drew three and have lost two games.

With five nations participating in the upcoming SAFF Championship (Bhutan has refrained from participating due to travel restrictions imposed due to the Covid-19 pandemic and Pakistan FA remains suspended by FIFA since April 7, 2021, due to third-party interference), the Indian team is guaranteed to play four more matches taking their total tally to 11 matches in 2021.

In the last 10 years, India on an average have played 12 international matches in every calendar year except for 2020 when they did not play a single game due to the restrictions imposed in the country due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The most number of matches they played in one calendar year was in 2016. After the Asian Cup 2011, the Blue Tigers appeared in 16 international matches, which included friendlies, AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers, 2014 World Cup qualifiers and the SAFF Championship.

The least number of matches they played in a year was in 2014 when they played only two international friendlies. Dutch coach Wim Koevermans was in charge of the national team back then. India has often participated in tournaments like Nehru Cup, Kings Cup, Intercontinental Cup etc.

Let's find out how many matches have India played in each calendar year in the last 10 years.

2011 

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

India did not play any match in 2020 due to the outbreak of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in the country and the travel restrictions related to it.

India will be looking to clinch their eighth SAFF Championship title when the tournament kicks off on October 1 in Maldives. They are the most successful team amongst the other participating nations which includes Bangladesh, Nepal, Maldives, and Sri Lanka. 

Sunil Chhetri is the highest scorer amongst Indians with 13 strikes to his name. To become the all-time top-scorer of the competition, he has to overtake Maldives' Ashfaq Ali who leads the charts with 20 strikes.

India have won 34 games, drawn 10, and have ended up losing on eight occasions. Interestingly, four of those defeats have come in the final. Three of the eight losses India have suffered came against Maldives.

1995 

Sri Lanka vs India (1-0)

In the 1995 SAFF Championship final, India locked horns with Sri Lanka. It was an intense battle and after 90 minutes both teams were inseparable. The match went into extra time and in the second half, Sarath Wellage broke Indian hearts with a winner in the 108th minute to hand his team the silverware. 

2003

India vs Pakistan (0-1)

It was the first match of the 2003 edition of the SAFF Championship where the two eternal rivals went up against each other. Neither of the two teams could break the deadlock in the opening 45 minutes. After halftime, Pakistan found a spring in their foot and they made the most of their dominance with Sarfaraz Rassol piercing the net in the 50th minute. IM Vijayan came close to scoring in the 70th minute but his effort went inches wide of the frame and India were consigned to a defeat.

Bangladesh vs India (2-1)

In the first semi-final, India took on hosts Bangladesh in a packed Bangabandhu Stadium, in Dhaka. It took 77 minutes for the opening goal as Rokonuzzaman Kanchan put his side ahead. However, Alvito D'Cunha levelled things up for India just four minutes later. But Motiur Munna's opportunistic strike in the 98th minute propelled Bangladesh to the finals. 

2008

India vs Maldives (0-1) 

India went into the final as the favourites . They were unbeaten in the tournament and had conceded just twice. The strikeforce of Sunil Chhetri and Bhaichung Bhutia had looked threatening earlier in the tournament, but in the final, they failed to their weave magic. The island nation courtesy of a 77th-minute strike by Mukhtar Naseer defeated India to win the SAFF Championship. The edition was held in Maldives for the first time.

2009

Maldives vs India (2-0) 

This was the final group stage match and India succumbed to a shock 2-0 defeat. One goal in each half from Ahmed Thoriq and Ibrahim Fazeel handed Maldives the three points against the Blue Tigers. However, India exacted sweet revenge on Maldives, as they beat them in the final to win the championship. India had sent an U23 team to this tournament.

2013

India vs Nepal (1-2)

Nepal registered a shock-win over India, at the Dasarath Rangasala Stadium in Katmandu, in a group stage match. The Indians were on the backfoot right from the start and in the 70th minute, the citadel was finally breached when Anil Gurung scored the opener. 11 minutes later, Jumanu Rai doubled the lead for Nepal. India's Syed Rahim Nabi scored a consolation goal for the visitors in injury time. 

Afghanistan vs India (2-0)

India were once again outplayed in the tournament, and this time it was the Afghans who inflicted damage. Wim Kovermans' India were no match and the opposition dominated proceedings. They took just nine minutes to score the opener through Mustafa Azadzoy. The Dutch manager brought on Sunil Chhetri to cancel the deficit at the hour-mark but the Afghan defence could not be breached. Instead, India conceded the second goal in the 62nd minute through Sandjar Ahmadi. 

2018

Maldives vs India (2-1)

India were the overwhelming favourites to win the SAFF Championship even though coach Stephen Constantine chose to field only U-23 players.  They had won all their matches in the competition quite comfortably and had even beaten Maldives 2-0 in the group stage. But in the final, India could not play their natural game. Ibrahim Mahudhee Hussain got an early goal in the 19th minute and the island nation further increased their lead through Ali Fasir after the hour-mark. Although Sumeet Passi got a late goal, it was not enough to win the tournament. 

Christian Pulisic says that there is no doubt in the U.S. men's national team squad right now despite a difficult start to World Cup qualifying both on and off the field.

The U.S. has earned just two points from two games to start the cycle, while team leader Weston McKennie was sent home after violating team policy ahead of Sunday's draw with Canada.

And, with a vital match at Honduras looming, Pulisic says that the team isn't feeling any external pressure because they know it's their job to win.

What was said?

"There's no doubt within this team. We're a confident bunch of guys," Pulisic said. "We know that we're a good enough team to go in tomorrow to get three points. That's our mindset.

"We're going in to win the game. And we're going to have to fight. Nothing's going to be easy, we know that, because that's how these games are, but we have no excuses and we're going to go and try to win the game tomorrow."

Fixing the attack

After both the El Salvador and Canada games, U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter admitted that the USMNT's attack wasn't performing up to standards, saying the team was too slow and individualistic.

That viewpoint was echoed by Pulisic after that second game, with the Chelsea star saying the USMNT needed new ideas going forward.

Pulisic expects those new ideas to show themselves on Wednesday, although he says much of the team's success will come down to simply playing up to its potential.

"We have good attacking players," Pulisic said. "It's not something that we need to be concerned about, or look into too much.

"Obviously there are slight things that we can do. We watch video and there are certain adjustments that we'll try to make just to make it flow a bit better, but in the end, we know how to play.

"It's our job to go out there and create chances and score goals."

Further reading

U.S. men's national team coach Gregg Berhalter explained the decision to send Weston McKennie home ahead of the group's trip to Honduras while clarifying that the midfielder does have a future with the program despite his recent incident.

McKennie was dismissed for a "violation of team policy" related to an incident involving Covid protocol, with ESPN reporting that McKennie spent a night outside of the USMNT's bubble before inviting a guest into the bubble on a separate occasion.

The Juventus midfielder missed the USMNT's 1-1 draw with Canada and will be out for Wednesday's visit to Honduras, but Berhalter says to expect McKennie back with the team at some point.

What was said?

"I think when you talk about team policies and team rules and what we're trying to accomplish as a team," Berhalter told reporters, "the team absolutely comes first, and we made this decision not only for the short term but for the long-term health of the program.

"And it's not an easy decision. Trust me. Countless coaches are faced with decisions where they have to take talented players out of the lineup for some reason or other, but we did it for what we think is the good of the group and the team.

"It is what it is. We're obviously going to be missing Weston for Wednesday, but it doesn't rule him out for the future, but we know that we're without him on Wednesday."

When asked to expand on McKennie's future with the program, Berhalter continued: "If you've been watching the moves that we've been making, how we've been talking to people. it's an open-door policy.

"There will very rarely be a situation where a player would never be allowed back into national team camp. That's not how we operate. If you see the track record, it's that guys are in based on performance and based on how they're doing.

"Me and Weston had long conversations. He's a guy that I care for deeply. He's a big part of the team and I'm sure when he's performing well he'll be back on the team."

Replacements in the middle

With McKennie out, the U.S. still has several midfield options to start the Honduras game.

Berhalter turned to Tyler Adams, Kellyn Acosta and Sebastian Lletget in the midfield against Canada, while Brenden Aaronson could start centrally after playing on the wing in that game.

Cristian Roldan is also in the U.S. squad while Jackson Yueill was added to the team in the wake of McKennie's departure.

Further reading

Virgil van Dijk has looked to calm any injury fears after a collision late in Netherlands' 6-1 win over Turkey on Tuesday.

The defender was sent into the air after a clash with Halil Dervisoglu following an under-hit pass from Dutch goalkeeper Justin Bijlow, which led to a late consolation for the Turks.

Van Dijk was down on the ground for a brief spell as Netherlands easily won the World Cup qualifier in Amsterdam.

What was said?

Van Dijk told reporters: "I’m fine, luckily. I’m already over it. Maybe because I am so big, they think I am acting, because when I go down, it goes in quite a slow way."

Injury fears for Van Dijk

Netherlands and Liverpool supporters will be keenly following the defender's health this season after he missed nearly all of the 2020-21 season with an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

The injury played a major role in Liverpool's inability to defend the Premier League title they won in the 2019-20 campaign. 

Van Dijk also missed out for Netherlands at Euro 2020 this summer, as the Dutch fell to the Czech Republic in the last 16. 

The defender has now returned for both club and country, though he did suffer a broken finger last week after a collision with Norway star Erling Haaland.

With the international break now over for Van Dijk, he is set to feature for Liverpool on Sunday when they face Leeds in the Premier League.

Further reading

Senegal left it late to defeat Congo 3-1 in Tuesday’s World Cup qualifier at the Alphonse Massamba Debat Stadium.

After defeating Togo 2-0 in their first match of the qualification series, the Lions of Teranga travelled to Brazzaville full of positivity.

For the hosts – who settled for a 1-1 draw against Namibia their last time out – they needed to escape defeat to remain in contention for a World Cup ticket.

The Red Devils had the first chance to score, albeit, goalkeeper Edouard Mendy was well-positioned to save Dylan Saint-Louis’s eight-minute effort.

Despite Congo’s attacking forays, it was the Senegalese who found the net first courtesy of Boulaye Dia after he was teed up by Kalidou Koulibaly.

A minute before the half time break, Paul Put’s side restored parity after Sylvere Ganvoula beat Mendy from the penalty mark following a foul on Prestige Mboungou inside the area.

With the game looking destined for a draw, Ismaila Sarr put Senegal ahead in the 83rd minute before Mane guaranteed the win four minutes later from the penalty after he was fouled in the box.

Thanks to this result, the West Africans lead Group H with six points from two matches.

At Stade de Marrakech, Algeria was held to a 1-1 draw by the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations runners-up, Burkina Faso.

Buoyed by their 8-0 obliteration of Djibouti, the reigning African kings travelled to in Marrakesh full of hopes.

Unsurprisingly, they went a goal up in the 17th minute thanks to Soufiane Feghouli. Profitting from a Youce Belaili pass, Islam Slimani teed up Galatasaray winger Slimani who tapped into an empty net.

They almost doubled their advantage seven minutes later but Riyad Mahrez’s freekick was saved by goalkeeper Herve Koffi.

In the second half, Burkina Faso put up an improved performance which saw them level matters through Abdoul Tapsoba.

Even at the result, Djamel Belmadi’s lead Group A with four points, while Burkina Faso, Niger Republic and Djibouti follow that sequence.

Elsewhere, Guinea Bissau travelled to Omdurman, saw and hammered hosts Sudan 4-2.

Piqueti got a first-half double while Frederic Mendy and Mama Balde were among the goal scorers in the six-goal thriller.

The Falcons of Jediane got their goals through Mohamed Abdel Rahman, but that could not stop them from crumbling at home.

TUESDAY’S RESULTS

Cape Verde 1-2 Nigeria
Ethiopia 1-0 Zimbabwe
Malawi 1-0 Mozambique
Tanzania 3-2 Madagascar
Zambia 0-2 Tunisia
Congo 1-3 Senegal
Equatorial Guinea 1-0 Mauritania
Angola 0-1 Libya
Burkina Faso 1-1 Algeria
Sudan 2-4 Guinea Bissau