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Kuala Lumpur, Dec 31 (IANS) The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has heralded 2025 by signalling the start of a brand new era on Tuesday with the unveiling of a new logo and identity to reflect and reinforce the continued trajectory of the Confederation’s progress and rising standards in the coming years.

This latest milestone marks the Confederation’s first logo evolution in more than 23 years and only the second time in history that the AFC corporate brand has transformed following the introduction of its ‘shield’ logo shortly after its formation in 1954, which was subsequently updated in 2001, the AFC informed in a release on Tuesday.

Underlining the AFC’s commitment to engage with the most populous Continent and the largest football community in the world through the power of the beautiful game, the goal of the AFC’s new corporate brand identity is to establish a more modern, sophisticated and refined presence whilst also strengthening its connection with tomorrow’s generation of passionate fans, players and all stakeholders.

AFC President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, who alongside the AFC Executive Committee was presented with the new visual identity at its fifth meeting last month, said: “Across all levels of football, whether it is through the revamped club and national teams’ competitions, or the reforms of the AFC Statutes and the enhanced support to our Member Associations and Regional Associations, there is no denying that the AFC is at a pivotal point in our growth.

“Never in the history of the Asian game have we introduced more strategic reforms than we have in recent years, so it is vital for us to embrace a new identity and brand that truly reflects the transformative journey that we are well poised to undertake in the coming decade.

“Our Vision for the future remains resolute: we want to be a model Confederation in the world of football, we want to ensure our Asian teams succeed on the world stage, and to confirm football as Asia’s number one sport, and this new logo represents our bold ambitions to take the Asian game to unparalleled levels of excellence and success," he said. “On behalf of the Asian football family, I would like to express my best wishes to the valued stakeholders of Asian football – from our passionate fans, our world-class players and officials, our valued sponsors, broadcast and media partners – for a prosperous new year and I rally everyone to embark on this new and exciting future with the AFC.”

The AFC connects the largest, most diverse Continent on the planet through football. Bringing together and uniting the best of Asian football, the AFC acts as the connective thread that runs across this incredibly rich, diverse, and vibrant tapestry. It is the heartbeat of this living, breathing network, the thread that binds Asian football together and drives it forward. The AFC’s new logo is a bold embodiment of the brand idea: “Connecting Asia through the Power of Football”. Inspired by the unifying spirit of the game, the design captures the essence of football as a universal connector, with the AFC serving as the thread that weaves the Continent together.

The logo’s distinctive mark represents a dynamic thread or ribbon, tracing the fluid movements of players on the pitch, which seamlessly folds to form the letters ‘AFC,’ creating a visually striking and meticulously crafted logomark that reflects the essence of the Confederation’s identity, the AFC release informed. Brought to life through a vibrant combination of solid colours and gradient treatments, and complemented by a refreshed colour palette, the logo exudes strength, confidence, and modernity. It delivers a premium aesthetic that resonates with the gravitas and recognition the AFC deserves, not just across Asia, but on the global stage.

The updated colour selection introduces a rich blue with a subtle hint of purple alongside premium tones of gold, linen, fluorescent blue, and pure white as the core colours for the AFC’s new identity. Designed with flexibility in mind, the new AFC corporate brand effortlessly adapts to diverse applications and touchpoints, meeting the wide-ranging implementation needs of the AFC. This dynamic approach ensures the brand remains impactful, cohesive, and fresh, offering a balance of simplicity and sophistication.

--IANS

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Rourkela, Dec 31 (IANS) After making a dream start with two early goals via Amandeep Lakra (11') and Gonzalo Peillat (13'), Hyderabad Toofans squandered the lead to allow Delhi SG Pipers to bounce back and draw 2-2 in regulation time in a thrilling clash in the Hockey India League 2025 on the New Year's Eve. It was goals by Dilraj Singh (21') and Gareth Furlong (50') that helped SG Pipers equalise. However, Toofans held their nerves to clinch the bonus point with a 5-4 win in the shootout.

Riding on their opening match victory against Team Gonasika, Delhi SG Pipers made positive forays into the striking circle. Leading the charge was Jake Whetton who showcased his quick dribbling skills to enter the top of the striking circle to take an ambitious shot on goal but was blocked away by Vikas Dahiya of Hyderabad Toofans.

In the 10th minute of the game, Toofans managed the first PC of the match, thanks to Timothy Daniel's quick-thinking. The local lad from Simdega in Odisha, Amandeep brought early celebrations on New Year's Eve in Rourkela with a brilliant drag-flick. Only minutes later, Toofans returned to score yet another goal. This time it was the world's top drag-flicker Gonzalo Peillat sounding off the board with a fierce flick leaving no room for SG Pipers' young goalie Pawan to defend.

After getting off on the back foot, SG Pipers were desperate to make amends in their attack. They were finally able to narrow the lead to 1-2 when Whetton set up a goal for SG Pipers in the 21st minute. He assisted Dilraj Singh, who has been in great nick with back-to-back podium finishes for the junior India team, and broke no sweat in putting the ball past Toofans goalie Dahiya.

Though Toofans had chances to extend the lead through a couple of PCs and striker Talwinder taking a brave shot on goal minutes before the second hooter, they couldn't convert.

With the score reading 2-1 at half-time, both teams picked up some pace in the third quarter as they pushed for a goal. Sumit showcased fine 3D skills to win Delhi SG Pipers their first PC of the match in the 37th minute but they couldn't make much of the opportunity.

Meanwhile, Rajinder helped Toofans win a PC in the 42nd minute but Maico Casella's shot was well-saved by Benjamin Rennie. Despite both team's efforts, the third quarter remained goalless.

Only ahead by a goal, Hyderabad Toofans had to ensure solid defence to keep the SG Pipers forward line at bay. But it didn't help with Toofans conceding a PC in the 50th minute. This was Delhi SG Pipers' second PC and this time, they were bang on target. It was Gareth Furlong who opened his account in the Hero Hockey India League with perfect execution of the drag flick to equalise 2-2.

Thanks to Wallace's efforts, Toofans managed to earn the fifth PC of the match but they messed up the execution. In the dying moments of the match, Toofans won another PC but to their luck, the effort rebounded off the pole taking the match into a shootout.

--IANS

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Harbin (China), Dec 31 (IANS) The identity registration cards for the 2025 Asian Winter Games will be officially activated at midnight on January 1, according to the Harbin Exit-Entry Border Inspection Station. Held from February 7 to 14, 2025, in Harbin, capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, the Asian Winter Games will welcome participants and officials from across the continent. Official entry and exit services for the event will begin on January 27.

From January 1 to March 1, overseas participants and personnel affiliated with the Games will be able to enter and exit the Chinese mainland multiple times using their valid passports or other international travel documents, in conjunction with their Asian Winter Games identity cards, reports Xinhua.

Harbin Taiping International Airport, the designated entry and exit hub for the Games, features an extensive air traffic network with 19 international routes connecting to Russia, Japan, South Korea, and other countries and regions.

A dedicated "Special Asian Winter Games Channel" has been set up at the airport. The Harbin Exit-Entry Border Inspection Station has also deployed professional guidance officers to assist with expedited clearance for event participants and staff.

Meanwhile, the landmark ice-and-snow theme park in Harbin, the capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, has been expanded ahead of the ninth Asian Winter Games, according to local authorities.

The Ice-Snow World, built on the northern bank of the Songhua River which flows through the city, will cover a million square metres in the coming snow season, up from 810,000 square metres in the last season. With its size equivalent to 140 football pitches, the extravaganza during the upcoming snow season will be of the largest scale. A total of 300,000 cubic metres of ice and snow has been used for crafting sculptures such as castles and towers, up from 250,000 cubic metres. The design and construction of the park feature elements of the ninth Asian Winter Games.

The theme park grew from the former Harbin Ice Lantern Festival, which started in 1963. In December 1999, the Ice-Snow World was built in Harbin to mark the millennium.

--IANS

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Beijing (China), Dec 31 (IANS) The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) released its latest world rankings on Tuesday, with Chinese Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha sitting at the top of men's and women's singles events, respectively. China's Wang Chuqin and Lin Shidong ranked top two in the men's singles, followed by Tomokazu Harimoto (Japan), Felix Lebrun (France), Liang Jingkun (China), Hugo Calderano (Brazil), Truls Moregard (Sweden), Lin Gaoyuan (China), Qiu Dang (Germany) and Patrick Franziska (Germany) in the top 10.

On the women's side, Chinese players Sun Yingsha, Wang Manyu, Wang Yidi and Chen Xingtong took up the top four places. Japan's Hina Hayata and Miwa Harimoto sat fifth and sixth, respectively, followed by Cheng I-Ching from Chinese Taipei, South Korea's Shin Yubin, and Japan's Mima Ito, reports Xinhua.

Following the release of the latest world rankings, the Chinese Table Tennis Association (CTTA) issued a statement confirming that Ma Long, Fan Zhendong, and Chen Meng have officially withdrawn from the rankings, announcing that all necessary procedures for their withdrawal have been completed.

"The association will continue to follow the development of three athletes and provide them with full support, whether they choose to return to the international stage or focus on domestic competitions," read the statement. "The CTTA has been actively engaging with the ITTF and World Table Tennis (WTT) to advocate for reasonable adjustments to competition rules."

"Ma Long, Fan Zhendong, and Chen Meng have brought great honour to the nation and made outstanding contributions to the sport worldwide. As the president of the CTTA, I am committed to supporting our athletes in protecting their rights and interests," said Liu Guoliang.

"I propose that the WTT consider granting 'participation exemptions' for veteran and decorated players while establishing a 'prize pool' to reward young athletes who actively compete," Liu added.

--IANS

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Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu), Dec 30 (IANS) Chandigarh Chargers confirmed their place in the Division 2 final despite a narrow loss to Vizag Victors as the Yuva Kabaddi Series continued its thrilling run on the eighth day at the Karpagam Academy of Higher Education here on Monday. Delhi Dhurandhars, UP Falcons, and Hampi Heroes won their respective matches as the day saw dominant performances from these teams.

The final game of the day turned out to be the most entertaining one as Vizag Victors stunned table-toppers Chandigarh Chargers with a nail-biting 38-36 victory. Despite the loss, Chandigarh got a point, which confirmed their spot in the finals. For Vizag, substitute Pirati Srisivatejesh was the game-changer, scoring 13 raid points, while Samara Simha Reddy Gunimini added a Super 10. Chandigarh’s Nikesh was brilliant with 15 raid points but the team faltered in the crucial closing moments of the game.

The opening match set the tone with a hard-fought battle as Delhi Dhurandhars edged past Sindh Sonics 28-23. Arpit Nagar led the raiding unit with nine raid points, but it was substitute Nishant Bhati who turned the tide with seven tackle points. Sindh Sonics, despite solid defensive efforts from Manav Sharma and Harichand Singh, struggled in the raiding department and fell short.

In the second clash, UP Falcons continued their dominant form, thrashing Panchala Pride 53-26. With this win, the Falcons are on the brink of qualifying for the final, while Panchala remains winless in the tournament. Rachit Yadav was the star raider with a stellar 17 raid points, supported by Navneet Nagar’s defensive brilliance, who earned eight tackle points. Panchala’s lone bright spot was Ghanshyam Das, who scored a Super 10 but lacked support from his teammates.

The third match saw Hampi Heroes outclass Hyderabad Hurricanes 55-28. Chetan Jangama was unstoppable for Hampi, racking up 16 raid points with excellent support from his team. Hyderabad’s Tholem Balakrishna fought valiantly with eight raid points but could not prevent another heavy defeat for the Hurricanes.

--IANS

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London, Dec 30 (IANS) Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah says he is focused on helping his team win the Premier League title, but admits he is still "far away" from signing a new contract. The Egyptian scored his 20th goal of the season and helped set up Cody Gakpo for the second goal in Liverpool's 5-0 win away to West Ham on Sunday to lift them eight points clear at the top of the points table.

However, with his contract due to expire at the end of June, Salah has not yet agreed to a new contract and when asked about his future in a post-game TV interview, the Egyptian forward admitted he and the club were still far away from that, reports Xinhua.

"I don't want to put anything in the media...The only thing on my mind is I want Liverpool to win the league and I want to be part of that. I will do my best for the team to win the trophy. There are a few other teams catching up with us and we need to stay focused and humble and go again," commented Salah.

The forward isn't the only Liverpool player who will be able to leave for free at the end of the campaign with defenders Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold also out of contract, with Alexander-Arnold being linked with a possible move to Real Madrid.

Salah was in good form as Liverpool continued their exceptional season and strengthened their lead at the top of the Premier League with a 5-0 win away to West Ham United on Sunday.

Luis Diaz opened the scoring on the half-hour after an attempted pass bounced back to him, allowing him to drive into the area and score from 12 metres out. Mohammed Kudus hit the post for West Ham minutes later, but Liverpool doubled the lead through Cody Gakpo in the 40th minute after some Salah magic in the West Ham penalty area.

Salah sealed the win with a low shot a minute before halftime and Trent Alexander-Arnold made it 4-0 with a deflected shot nine minutes into the second half before Diogo Jota rounded off another emphatic win with six minutes left.

--IANS

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Sydney, Dec 30 (IANS) Katie Boulter and Charles Broom clawed past Maria Lourdes Carle and Tomas Martin Etcheverry 7-6(4), 7-5 on Monday in Sydney to seal Great Britain's 2-1 victory against Argentina in the United Cup at the Ken Rosewall Arena here on Monday. With this result, Great Britain, Argentina, and Australia all still have a chance to win the group and advance to the quarterfinals of the mixed-gender teams competition.

Boulter opened the tie with a 6-2, 6-3 victory against Nadia Podoroska and later returned to Ken Rosewall Arena to partner Broom to the tie-deciding win. Great Britain will now take on Australia on Wednesday evening in what promises to be a thrilling, pressure-packed battle.

At 5-5 in the second set of the mixed doubles, Carle courageously saved two break points, but the Argentine was unable to stave off a third. Boulter hit a big forehand passing shot up the line and out of the reach of the net-hovering Etcheverry to move ahead before serving out the important triumph for her country. Etcheverry forced a live mixed doubles against the British with a 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 win against Billy Harris.

The Briton claimed their lone previous ATP Head2Head meeting last year. But this time, the Argentine rallied from a set down to triumph in two hours and 44 minutes. Etcheverry was fresh off a one-sided season-opening loss to home favourite Alex de Minaur. After dropping a gruelling first set, the 25-year-old could have allowed his slow start to the new season to hurt his performance.

But, instead, the No. 39 player in the ATP Rankings bounced back and played solid baseline tennis to grind down his opponent, leading to more errors from Harris and baseline rallies going in favour of Etcheverry. In the spirit of the United Cup, a loud contingent of Argentine fans with their country's flag in tow helped spur Etcheverry on to victory. During the former World No. 27's on-court interview, it was difficult to hear his answers because of how loud the fans were.

Boulter made a good start for her country on Monday afternoon. In Ken Rosewall Arena, World No. 24 Boulter took one hour and 26 minutes to take down 100th-ranked Podoroska in their first career meeting. British No. 1 Boulter is fresh off her first Top 50 season, having won two WTA titles in 2024.

Boulter slammed nine forehand winners and converted three of her nine break points in Monday’s opening set, which ended on a Podoroska double fault. Podoroska, the 2020 Roland Garros semi-finalist, tried to regroup in the second set, but Boulter battled through a 12-minute hold for 3-0 and eased home from there.

--IANS

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Rourkela, Dec 30 (IANS) James Mazarelo put in a match-winning performance to set up a 3-1 win for the UP Rudras against the Kalinga Lancers in their Hockey India League (HIL) 2024-25 match at the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium here on Monday. Despite trailing to a first-quarter goal from Enrique Gonzalez (13`), the UP Rudras secured a superb comeback win thanks to goals from Kane Russell (45`, 60`) and Sudeep Chirmako (50`).

It was the UP Rudras who set the tempo early in the first quarter with captain Hardik Singh dictating play from the heart of midfield. Though they had more circle penetrations than the Vedanta Kalinga Lancers, the UP Rudras forward line did not test Krishan Bahadur Pathak in goal. The Vedanta Kalinga Lancers finally found their rhythm midway through the quarter with English forward Nicolas Bandurak proving to be a menace for the UP Rudras defence with Arthur van Doren also having a crack at goal.

Kalinga Lancers duly took the lead in the 13th minute with a clinical move down the right flank. Sanjay made a run down the right channel and found the young Boby Singh Dhami on the goalline. Dhami threaded the Rudras defence to find Enrique Gonzalez who gave his side the lead with a first-time finish. The Kalinga Lancers could have gone into the second quarter with a three-goal lead but for some good goalkeeping by Mazarelo. The English goalkeeper first kept out Alexander Hendrickx’s drag-flick before saving follow-up attempts from Partap Lakra and Thierry Brinkman.

Mazarelo was a busy man at the start of the second quarter as well, with the Kalinga Lancers regularly finding ways to get inside the UP Rudras circle. The UP Rudras were static in attack as they failed to create decent chances in front of the goal. On top of that, they were up against a Kalinga Lancers defence which was proving difficult to break down. Particularly impressive was 21-year-old Rosan Kujur who was playing in front of his home fans.

The Kalinga Lancers were the dominant side in the first half as they racked up 13 circle penetrations compared to six from the UP Rudras. Crucially for the Rudras, Mazarelo made five saves in the first half to keep them alive in the match. The Englishman continued to keep his side in the game in the third quarter as he pulled off a diving save to deny Boby Singh Dhami a stunning goal in the 33rd minute. The UP Rudras attack finally began to click. In the 38th minute, Akashdeep Singh, who found himself in a promising position in the circle, only had Krishan Bahadur Pathak to beat but saw his shot being blocked at point-blank range by Sanjay.

Pathak was tested a minute later when Lars Balk’s pass from deep was delightfully deflected towards goal by Manmeet Singh. Pathak instinctively flung himself to his right to ensure his side kept their lead. Pathak made another good save two minutes from the end of the third quarter to deny Tanguy Cousyns. The UP Rudras had a golden opportunity to draw themselves level in the 44th minute as they won their first penalty corner. Kane Russell made no mistake as he fired in his drag flick past Pathak to set up a nail-biting final quarter.

The goal proved to be the wind in the UP Rudras’s sails as they started the fourth quarter on the front foot. The Rudras won possession high up the pitch with Sudeep Chirmako forcing Pathak to give away a penalty corner. The Lancers' captain was not going to be beaten for a second time from a penalty corner as he dove to his left to keep out the drag attempt. The Rudras completed an incredible turnaround in the 50th minute to take the lead for the first time in the match. Lars Balk’s drive from outside the circle was touched towards goal by Sudeep Chirmako. Gurjot Singh challenged Pathak for the shot but neither player was able to get a touch as the ball rolled into the goal. The home crowd was stunned into silence.

The Lancers upped their tempo looking to the equaliser but struggled to find a way past the impervious Mazarelo. The Netherlands’ 2024 Olympics gold medallist Thierry Brinkman found himself in a promising position in the 54th minute only to see his attempt being smothered by Mazarelo.

The Lancers threw the kitchen sink in their hunt for an equaliser as they removed goalkeeper Pathak for an extra outfield player for the final three minutes. However, it was the UP Rudras who came closest to scoring as Jobanpreet Singh failed to connect with a cross from the right with the goal gaping in front of him. The Rudras did get their third goal late as Lalit Kumar Upadhyay won a penalty corner with 14 seconds left on the clock. With no goalkeeper between the sticks and only four defenders to beat, Kane Russell secured his second of the night to give his side victory.

Player of the Match James Mazarelo said, “It is a massive win just to show that we know that even if we’re down in the game, we’re always in the match and then we can back ourselves to go and score multiple goals.”

--IANS

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Perth, Dec 30 (IANS) Alexander Zverev and Laura Siegemund continued their perfect United Cup record in the mixed doubles on Monday, securing defending champions Germany’s status as Group E winners and a place in the quarterfinals with a victory against China in Group E.

The duo notched a 6-2, 7-6(3) victory over Zhang Zhizhen and Zhang Shuai in the deciding mixed doubles rubber against China, sealing a 2-1 win in favour of the defending champions. Zverev and Siegemund had won each of the four previous mixed doubles rubbers they contested at the event and ensured they kept a clean slate with a rock-solid performance, booking a quarter-final clash with Kazakhstan.

“Triple ZZZ is a very funny guy, we had a great singles and great mixed doubles match with Laura,” said Zverev. “I’m happy that we’re in the quarterfinals and, actually, I’m happy that China are in the quarterfinals too. Congratulations to the Chinese team. It was a really great match,” Siegemund added. “When you play for the first time after a while, you never really know what’s going to happen, and I think it was a great performance.”

Earlier, Zverev shook off a sluggish start to give Germany an initial 1-0 lead in the tie, rallying to a 2-6, 6-0, 6-2 victory over Zhang Zhizhen. Gao Xinyu then fought back for China with a 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 upset of Siegemund, levelling the tie at 1-1. With her singles win, Gao ensured China finished second in Group E, facing the winner of Group A in the quarter-finals. “I didn’t start well…I was missing more shots from my backhand side, which is normally the most stable,” said Zverev. “He was also playing extremely well, so aggressive. He was not letting me into the match or find my rhythm.

“Then I pushed some balls back in the second set to get some rhythm from the baseline. Then I found my rhythm and I’m happy with my performance in the second and third sets.”

In the men’s singles, Zhang had picked up where he left off from his 54-minute clinic against Thiago Monteiro on Friday with a promising start to the winner-takes-all tie. Zverev’s standout quality has been his serving in recent times, but it was thoroughly tested in the opening set against Zhang. The Chinese star broke Zverev on two occasions, and was imperious behind his own, winning 93 per cent (13/14) of first deliveries, according to Infosys ATP Stats.

Zhang, who reached his maiden ATP Tour final in Hangzhou in September, struck cleanly from both wings from the beginning of the match. Yet he was unable to withstand 23-time titlist Zverev once he grew into the encounter and found his range from the baseline. Zverev, significantly aided by the 22 unforced errors that Zhang fired, asserted his dominance with a perfect second-set score. After a stark drop in intensity in the second set, Zhang steadied himself through the first four games of the decider. But after another lapse in the sixth, Zverev raced away with the final four games to improve to 2-0 in the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting.

Gao's victory continues a dream week for the World No.175, who has replaced the absent Zheng Qinwen in singles. Before the United Cup, a professional career that started in 2014 had seen the 27-year-old notch just one tour-level win, in Hua Hin last September, and one defeat of a Top 100 player, over Veronica Cepede Royg in 2017 Beijing qualifying.

Now, including an opening career-best win over Beatriz Haddad Maia, Gao has posted two more of each. Though she had been beset by a leg injury during the 3-hour, 22-minute marathon against Haddad Maia, Gao emerged against Siegemund both moving and swinging freely. By contrast, Siegemund's timing and touch were both off in the first set, during which she committed 14 unforced errors to Gao's seven.

--IANS

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Hyderabad, Dec 30 (IANS) Kerala outclassed Manipur 5-1 to advance to the final of the Santosh Trophy for the 16th time on Sunday, at the Gachibowli Stadium.

A late Muhammad Roshal PP hat trick put the gloss on a brilliant team performance from Kerala who will now take on old rivals West Bengal for the trophy. He was rightly handed over the Player of the Match award.

In the day’s first semi-final, West Bengal defeated holders Services 4-2 to move into the final for the 47th time.

In a high-octane first half, it was Kerala that struck first, their brilliant midfield play paying out the dividends in the 22nd minute of the game. After some passing that shifted the play constantly, and dragged Manipur's midfield out of shape, Muhammed Riyas played a through ball into the gap towards Muhammed Ajsal. The forward let the ball go through, having anticipated his supporting forward Naseeb Rahman making a run up front.

Rahman picked up the ball 25 yards from goal, entered the box, rounded the goalkeeper and finished with aplomb to give Kerala a deserved lead.

Manipur had faced a deficit earlier in the tournament and were no strangers to comebacks. And so it proved. In the 30th minute, from a long throw-in, Nijo Gilbert handled the ball in the box to give Manipur a lifeline back in the game. Shunjantan Ragui made no mistake from the resulting penalty, slamming it into the roof of the net.

The game's topsy turvy momentum continued in the end stages of the half. S Hajmal's spill in the danger zone from a wayward Manipur shot resulted in a frenzy hastily cleared away. And in first half injury time came the piece de resistance, a breakaway Kerala move giving them the lead once again.

Played through on the left wing, Riyas drifted in towards the byline before cutting a perfect low cross to the centre of the goal. An onrushing Ajsal displayed calm and brilliant technique to finish the move with a backheel flick. Kerala went into the break in the lead.

Manipur pressed harder in the second half in search of the equaliser, as Kerala dropped deeper. A moment of magic in the 73rd minute though completely killed the game. The newly introduced substitute, Muhammed Roshal stole the ball from Manipur forty yards from goal, ran towards the centre and let fly from outside the box. The ball slotted perfectly into the bottom corner. Kerala were two goals to the good, and Manipur looking at the abyss of a semi-final defeat.

The third goal killed Manipur off completely and their defence capitulated completely at the end. Roshal added two more goals right at the end, one from the penalty spot in injury time to complete a brilliant victory. Kerala, however, suffered a setback when defender Manoj M received the marching orders for his second yellow card offence.

--IANS

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