The 19-year-old from Karnataka has been one of the most promising names in Indian women’s football, known for her vision, ball control, and composure in midfield. Her move to Singapore will allow her to gain international experience and compete at a higher level, as the Lion City Sailors prepare for their upcoming AFC Women’s Champions League campaign.

For Rivka, the transfer represents a new challenge and a valuable chance to grow as a player in a professional setup. Playing in a more competitive environment will help her further develop her skills and bring valuable experience back to Indian football.

This signing is also a positive sign for women’s football in India, showing that talent from the country is being recognised across Asia. Rivka’s move will serve as motivation for many young players who dream of playing professionally overseas.

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Riding on Monirul Molla’s headed goal in the first half, India were looking to take control by widening the gap, but a scuffle between players from both sides resulted in three red cards – two for India and one for Bhutan – which threatened to change the entire complexion of the game. Despite Bhutan creating plenty of pressure in the remainder of the contest to capitalise on their man advantage, India kept them at bay and came out with all three points.

India got on the front foot from the get-go, taking control of possession and playing with a high backline as Bhutan settled deep in their third. Gurnaj Singh Grewal attempted India’s first shot as he intercepted a pass from goalkeeper Lhocho Nima and pulled the trigger from more than 40 yards out, but Nima backtracked in time and collected the ball.

India looked dangerous from set-pieces, particularly with Kelvin Singh Taorem’s curling deliveries. In the 14th minute, he whipped in a free-kick which was met by Thomas Cherian in the six-yard box but he could only send his glancing header wide.

On a rare foray forward, Bhutan registered their first shot of the match when captain Pema Zangpo was fouled by Cherian near the by-line. With the resulting free-kick, Zangpo set up Jignam Dorji, whose first-time shot was blocked by Manjot Singh Dhami.

With Bhutan cramping out spaces through the middle, India resorted to long-range attempts as well. Kelvin went for the spectacular from 35 yards but ballooned it way over the crossbar. Korou Singh Thingujam’s dipping shot five minutes later was slightly better, but it missed the target by a few inches.

Sensing a glorious opportunity, Korou burst into the box from the right and went for a low strike but it missed the far post by merely a few inches after being deflected by Kinley Penjoy.

Finally, India’s breakthrough arrived from a Kelvin corner in the 37th minute. Monirul Molla rose highest to meet his looping delivery and accurately headed it into the bottom corner to put the Blue Colts 1-0 up.

Kelvin’s corners continued to trouble Bhutan in the second half too as in the 52nd minute, Ebindas Yesudasan’s header narrowly missed the bottom corner. A little later, Korou headed wide from Kelvin’s chipped cross amidst pressure from the Bhutan goalkeeper.

In a startling turn of events, Bhutan’s Kinley Gyeltshen and India’s Pramveer and Vanlalpeka Guite, who hadn’t even touched the ball after coming on, were shown the red card following a scuffle in the 69th minute. India were reduced to nine for the remainder of the match, while Bhutan had 10 players. In the very next minute, Molla paced from the halfway line to the Bhutan box, escaping several yellow shirts but was eventually thwarted by Nima in a one-on-one situation.

After maintaining the deficit at 0-1, Bhutan began piling pressure on India with their man advantage. Jigme Namgyel came close twice, hitting the side netting and then flashing a low shot wide of the far post. Rigzin Dorji stuck his foot out to get on the end of a long ball in the box, almost catching Priyansh Dubey out of position, but he recovered to collect the ball.

The 10 minutes of injury time were perhaps as eventful as the entire 90 minutes before that as both India and Bhutan had chances to alter the scoreline. In the 93rd minute, Gwgwmsar Goyary sneaked his way in the box and beat Nima to set it on a plate for Manglenthang Kipgen, but Penjoy was on hand to block it from point-blank range. In the 99th minute, Kipgen’s lobbed effort from 25 yards was pushed onto the crossbar by Nima’s fingertips, before the final chance of the match fell for Bhutan as Zangpo slid behind the Indian defence and poked a left-footed shot which struck the post.

India XI: Priyansh Dubey (GK), Ricky Meetei Haobam (C), Thomas Cherian, Pramveer, Manjot Singh Dhami, Korou Singh Thingujam, Gurnaj Singh Grewal (Manglenthang Kipgen 63′), Ebindas Yesudasan (Vanlalpeka Guite 63′), Monirul Molla (Gwgwmsar Goyary 84′), Malemngamba Singh Thokchom, Kelvin Singh Taorem (Surajkumar Singh Ngangbam 72′)

– Courtesy AIFF Media

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Manvir Singh handed the Antonio Lopez Habas-coached side an early lead in the third minute, but Carlos Delgado and Roy Krishna scored once each for Odisha FC to help the team maintain their unbeaten streak at home this season (13 matches) before heading into the second leg of this last-four clash at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata on April 28, Sunday. Eventually, both teams brought an end to this hotly contested clash with 10 men on either side, as goal-scorer Delgado and Mohun Bagan Super Giant striker Armando Sadiku were sent off in the 74th and 67th minutes of the match after picking up a couple of yellow cards each.

Both these teams are renowned for their expansive, free-flowing footballing styles. However, they were naturally tightly organised in this match, leaving no gaps exposed in their backlines, compelling each other out of their comfort zones and making them look for unique ways to find the back of the net. For example, Manvir Singh has been a dazzling presence on the flank for the Mariners, but tonight, at 2:21 minutes, he netted the second fastest goal in the ISL playoffs, behind only Lalrindika Ralte’s goal at 2:08 for ATK against Mumbai City FC on December 10, 2016.

The ball was delivered to him from a corner by dynamic striker Dimitrios Petratos. Petratos had assisted both of the goals by the Mohun Bagan Super Giant in their 2-1 win in the title-winning clash against Mumbai City FC earlier this month. He carried that rich vein of form in this match, providing a razor sharp cross that Manvir, positioned at the centre in the box, headed home to break the deadlock. Odisha FC were not left too far behind though, replying in similar fashion courtesy of the duo of Ahmed Jahouh and Delgado nine minutes later. The Moroccan was accurate with his corner delivery, and Delgado made his way through a crowded 18-yard box to deposit the ball into the back of the net.

A rather tense back-and-forth passage of play ensued thereafter, before Roy Krishna finally broke through with the winner in the 39th minute of the match. As the Mariners looked to press high from an Odisha FC goal-kick, custodian Amrinder Singh sensed a unique opportunity and put in a long ball straight towards Krishna inside the Mohun Bagan Super Giant half. Krishna brought the ball down with his head, before sprinting past Hector Yuste and putting the ball beyond Vishal Kaith to become the highest-ever goal-scorer for Odisha FC in a single ISL season with his 13th strike of the campaign.

Key Performer of the Match

Roy Krishna (Odisha FC)

The striker completed 15 out of his 23 attempted passes, along with making a tackle and a clearance each in addition to crossing twice. He scored the winner but refused to celebrate in respect of his former team Mohun Bagan Super Giant.

What’s next for both teams?

Both these teams will now head to the second leg of the semi-final on April 28 at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata.

Brief Scores

Odisha FC 2 (Carlos Delgado 11’, Roy Krishna 39’) – 1 Mohun Bagan Super Giant (Manvir Singh 3’)

Courtesy :- ISL Media

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The Antonio Lopez Habas-coached side accumulated 48 points from 22 games, beating the 47 of Mumbai City FC, and were thus crowned as the ISL 2023-24 League Winners. However, the drama hasn’t simmered down yet, with the fight for the ISL 2023-24 Cup Winners set to go down the wire with the playoffs beginning on April 19. Before that, here’s a look at some of the startling statistical insights from the league stages of the current campaign of the top-tier

Mohun Bagan Super Giant top the goal-scoring charts

Powered by a gifted frontline comprising Dimitrios Petratos, Armando Sadiku, Jason Cummings, along with Indian attackers in Liston Colaco and Manvir Singh, the Mohun Bagan Super Giant took pride in outscoring their opponents at will.

They found the back of the net 47 times across 22 games, which is the highest in the league and five more than the second-best team, i.e. Mumbai City FC (42 goals). Cummings (10), Petratos (10), and Sadiku (8) feature in the list of the top-10 goal-scorers currently, with the Mariners being the team with the highest representation in this coveted group.

Manvir Singh (7), Petratos (6), Joni Kauko (4), and Sahal Abdul Samad (4) are placed in the group of top-10 assist providers as well, reflecting a cohesive team effort that propelled the team to the title.

Mumbai City FC – Safest defence in the league

The Mumbai City FC defence has conceded the least goals in ISL 2023-24, giving away only 19 goals in the competition. The backline underwent a massive transition this season, with Mourtada Fall leaving for Odisha FC and Rostyn Griffiths saying goodbye to the Islanders mid-season.

Mumbai City FC have faced the least shots (231) and also the fewest amongst those on target (64) so far. They have kept the third-most clean sheets in the tournament (8), and their domestic contingent of the likes of Rahul Bheke, Mehtab Singh, Akash Mishra, amongst others have had a key role to play in that. Under those circumstances, the fact the Mariners managed to put in two goals past them in the title-winning clash is even more praiseworthy.

FC Goa buy into Manolo Marquez’s ideas

Manolo Marquez embraced and has so far thrived with the challenge of re-erecting the trembling FC Goa ship. The Gaurs have evolved into his philosophy seamlessly, recording a 74.3% passing accuracy in the opposition’s half this season. They have recorded the most final third passes (3265) and that too with the highest accuracy (69.7%).

Defensively, they have faced the least shots (198) and kept the most clean sheets (9) in the competition too. FC Goa, too, were derailed with injury issues to Victor Rodriguez and Sandesh Jhingan. However, they managed to stay in the hunt for the second spot right until the end owing to some smart mid-season acquisitions like Mohammed Yasir and Borja Herrera. They have also won the most points from losing situations (18), which reflects an undying attitude and something that will help them tremendously in the playoffs.

Attacking duo work wonders for Odisha FC

Boosted by the presence of senior strikers in Roy Krishna and Diego Mauricio, Odisha FC sailed through large chunks of the campaign comfortably due to their dominance upfront. With 35 goals to their name, they recorded the best shot conversion in the league at 17.9%. They have the second-best shooting accuracy in the league, at 48.5%.

The Juggernauts tend to begin the game strongly, netting 63% of their strikes in the first half of their matches. With the highest passing accuracy in the league, i.e. 81.9%, Odisha FC ensured that they kept pushing for their desired objectives of the campaign right until the very end. Will they bring their A-game to the table against Kerala Blasters on Friday?

Kerala Blasters FC face fitting playoffs task

Kerala Blasters FC sneaked into the playoffs thanks to a powerful performance in the first half of the season. The Yellow Army lost seven out of the ten games they played in the league since February, winning only twice. Though renowned for their home record, the Ivan Vukomanovic-coached team has fared well on the road too this season.

13 out of their 33 points this season have come through away fixtures. In fact, they have won six games in Kochi and four away from home, indicating that they will be up to overcome whatever challenge Odisha FC front them with in the playoffs at the Kalinga Stadium on April 19. To put some context, the Juggernauts have the best home record in the league, having collected 27 points from 11 matches, and it is a bastion that Vukomanovic & Co. will have difficulties in breaching.

Can Owen Coyle recreate his magic with Chennaiyin FC?

Chennaiyin FC stormed into the playoffs with the help of three victories in their final four matches. Owen Coyle has repeatedly managed to punch above his weight with his teams, taking the Marina Machans to the finals of ISL 2019-20 and then making Jamshedpur FC the ISL champions in 2021-22. For large parts of this season, Chennaiyin FC struggled in the bottom few places, but the team got its act together when needed, winning 10 points from losing positions this season.

They are solid starters, scoring 27% of their goals in the first 15 minutes of their games, which is the highest share amongst all teams. Rafael Crivellaro has been critical to their prospects, creating 42 goal-scoring chances and recording seven assists, and it will be interesting to observe the Brazilian unlocking the FC Goa defence in their playoffs clash on April 20.

The ISL 2023-24 playoffs kick off with the clash between Odisha FC and Kerala Blasters FC on April 19, at 7:30 pm IST.

ISL 2023-24: Team of Matchweek 22 (indiansuperleague.com)

Team of the Week – Matchweek 22

Goalkeeper: Mirshad Michu (NorthEast United FC)

Defender: Subhasish Bose (Mohun Bagan Super Giant), Bekey Oram (NorthEast United), Hector Yuste (MBSG)

Midfielder: Madih Talal (Punjab FC), Anirudh Thapa (MBSG), Brandon Fernandes (FC Goa), Mohammed Aimen (Kerala Blasters FC), Saurav Mandal (Kerala Blasters FC)

Attackers: Dimitrios Petratos (Mohun Bagan Super Giant), Carlos Martinez (FC Goa)

Standout Performances from Matchweek 22:

ISL 2023-24: Team of Matchweek 22 (indiansuperleague.com)

Points Table

Courtesy :- ISL Media

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Kerala Blasters FC had not tasted a win in any of their five matches before this game. They had in fact drawn once and lost four matches, as a host of injury issues came together to derail the solid campaign that they endured in the first half of the season.

That strong head-start, however, ensured that the Ivan Vukomanovic-coached team became the fifth team to qualify for the ISL playoffs, but their recent run of form had raised concerns over their possible performances in the coming stage of the competition.

Hormipan Ruivah and Saurav Mandal had injected immense excitement in the Kerala Blasters FC ranks with their interlinking on the right flank. On one such occasion, the duo engaged in a quick exchange of passes before Mandal lobbed the ball in for Aimen in the far post, who headed the ball into the back of the net, demonstrating tremendous aerial prowess in the 34th minute.

Mandal is perhaps providing Vukomanovic answers to his goal-scoring questions ahead of the playoffs. Six minutes into the second half, Mandal stormed into the box from the right, catching the Hyderabad FC defence off-guard. He launched in a low cross for Daisuke Sakai, who tapped the ball in to double the lead for the visitors.

The goal-scoring frenzy continued in the final 10-odd minutes of the match also. Aimen turned the provider again in the 81st minute, laying up a fairly straightforward delivery for Nihal on the right side of the box, who slotted the ball right into the centre of the net, in what was a showcase of the domestic talent and promise brimming through the Kerala Blasters FC ranks. Victor’s strike in the 88th minute was a result of some timely ingenuity by Alex Saji, who laid the ball in the path of the former through his head to pull back a goal, which was too little, too late for the team.  

Key Performer of the Match

Saurav Mandal (Kerala Blasters FC)

Mandal completed 15 out of his 20 passes, tackling once, intercepting twice, creating two goal-scoring chances, in addition to bagging two assists in this match.

What’s next for both teams?

Kerala Blasters FC will now feature in the ISL 2023-24 playoffs, whereas Hyderabad FC’s season comes to an end with this match.

Brief Scores

Kerala Blasters FC 3 (Mohammed Aimen 34’, Daisuke Sakai 51’, Nihal Sudheesh 81’) – 1 Hyderabad FC (Joao Victor 88’)

Stat Pack

Points Table

Courtesy :- ISL Media

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The Black and White Brigade, thus secured promotion to the Indian Super League, provided they meet the licensing criteria.

The side from Kolkata have now garnered an unassailable 52 points from 23 matches; their closest rivals, Sreenidi Deccan FC, are eight points behind with two games to play.

Alexis Nahuel Gomez scored in the very first minute for the ultimate champions, as Douglas Rosa Tardin equalised in the 15th minute for the home team. Evgenii Kozlov scored the winner for Mohammedan in the second half, to secure the title.

The equation was simple. Mohammedan Sporting needed one point to secure their maiden I-League title. But it was never going to be a walk in the park.

Shillong Lajong have had their moments this season, but are firmly rooted as a mid-table side at seventh in the I-League table with 31 points from 23 games. But their added motivation to play spoilsport against the top dogs was on ample display.

Mohammedan Sporting, for their part, did the bit that would have calmed their nerves, at least in the opening exchanges. Their Argentine forward Alexis Gomez produced a moment of magic in the first minute itself, when he spotted Lajong keeper Neitho Chalieu off his line, and chopped it goalwards from just inside the halfway mark, as the ball sailed over the goalkeeper’s head and nestled into the net.

The job seemed half done, but a lot could happen over 90 minutes, and from what ensued over the course of the rest of the first half, it was amply clear that one goal would not be enough for the Black and White Brigade.

It took Shillong just a quarter of an hour to get back into the game, a Douglas Tardin penalty making it 1-1. It would still be enough for Mohammedan.

However, their back four had their work cut out in the first half when Lajong piled the pressure on the table toppers. Tardin and Phrangki Buam, a former Mohammedan Sporting player himself, hit the woodwork.

In another blow for Mohammedan Sporting, their goalscorer Gomez hobbled off injured, only to be replaced by Kozlov.

Lajong right back Ronney Wilson Kharbudon had the perfect opportunity to put his side in the lead, when Tardin played a ball across the face of the goal, and the former only had to tap it into an empty net. The Mohammedan camp heaved a sigh of relief when he side-footed it inches wide.

Padam Chettri, Mohammedan Sporting’s goalkeeper, who has had a stellar season, pulled off a brilliant save to maintain parity just before the half-time break, as he palmed away a shot by Marcos Rudwere from point-blank range.

The home side started with the same tempo in the second half, but the table toppers managed the situation well. They stayed back and waited for the opportunity that soon presented itself.

Kozlov, who had come on as a first-half substitute, latched on to a clearance and found himself inside the box with just the keeper to beat, which he subsequently did. Finally, some breathing space for the Black and White Brigade.

Making it a collective effort by the team, the Mohammedan Sporting defenders put in an absolute shift in injury time. Joseph Adjei showed some brilliant anticipation to position himself beside keeper Chettri as Lajong’s Kynsaibor Lhud pulled the trigger. Adjei simply booted the effort away, to secure Mohammedan’s 15th win of the season.

Courtesy :- AIFF Media Team

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