East Bengal women likely to prepare for AFC Women’s Champions League playing against stronger age-group teams
Sudeep Pakrashi: East Bengal women’s team have been placed alongside China’s Wuhan Jiangda FC, Bam Khatoon FC of Iran, and PFC Nasaf of Uzbekistan in Group B of the AFC Women’s Champions League Group Stage. The tournament is scheduled to be held from 17th to 23rd November in China. East Bengal coach Anthony Andrews, when asked about his team’s ordeal, admitted that the team will have to face all the superior teams, especially against the defending champion, China’s Wuhan Jiangda. But at the same time, he promised that East Bengal would not give up. “Yes, all the teams are tough, competitive, and strong, especially the defending champion Wuhan Jiangda. But at the same time, I can say we also are competitive and our girls will not give up,” said Anthony while speaking from his residence in Mumbai. Although the club initially aimed to schedule preparatory matches with top domestic teams, these plans have stalled due to team availability and budget constraints. The club now intends to organize preparatory matches against strong youth boys’ teams as part of its preparation for the AFC Women’s Championship. Women’s football heads are seeking opportunities to arrange games with under-19 or under-16 teams participating in the AIFF youth leagues. Simultaneously, due to their AFC Champions League assignment, the club, although has not taken a final decision yet, does not seem keen on releasing footballers for the national preparatory camp for the senior women’s team’s forthcoming participation in the Asian Cup final phase and the under-20 women’s team’s qualification to the Under-20 Asian Cup final phase. Both tournaments are scheduled to be held in April and May next year, respectively. East Bengal women are likely to resume their training for the AFC Women’s Championship from 15th October.
Al Nassr bow out of AFC Champions League; Ronaldo misses sitter in injury-time
Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr crashed out of the Asian Champions League Elite semi-finals on Wednesday when they were beaten 3-2 by Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale. Ronaldo, a five-time winner of the UEFA Champions League, hit the woodwork with a first-half header in Jeddah and spurned a golden opportunity right at the death. The Al Nassr captain, still to win a major trophy in his two and a half years in Saudi Arabia, left the pitch shaking his head. Frontale, who were contesting their first Champions League semi-final, will now meet Jeddah-based Saudi Pro League club Al Ahli in Saturday’s showpiece. They become only the fifth Japanese club to reach the final of the continent’s premier competition. Frontale, who edged 2011 champions Al Sadd of Qatar 3-2 in extra-time on Sunday, began the semi-final with only one foreign player in their starting line-up, in stark contrast to big-spending Al Nassr’s seven. It was Frontale who took a surprise lead in 10 minutes when Tatsuya Ito met a looping clearance from Mohamed Simakan and sent a superb volley from the edge of the Al Nassr penalty area high into the top corner past Brazil goalkeeper Bento. But just before the half-hour mark, Sadio Mane leveled. The former Liverpool forward cut in from the left and then watched as his effort took a heavy deflection off Frontale stand-in captain Yuichi Maruyama, which was just enough to beat goalkeeper Louis Yamaguchi. Soon after, Ronaldo attempted an audacious overhead kick but sent it well wide, while a minute Later, he out-jumped his marker to crash a close-range header against the upright. However, four minutes before half-time, Frontale restored their lead.
