CYMK THE ECHO OF INDIA 8 Sport RNI: WBENG/2013/49934 SILIGURI Thursday October 16, 2014 Big names in ISL will benefit Indian football: FIFA Messi scores 2 goals Argentina thrash Hong Kong 7-0 HONG KONG, OCT 15/--/ Lionel Messi needed just six minutes to make his mark in Argentina's 7-0 rout of Hong Kong in a friendly at Hong Kong Stadium, yesterday night. Barcelona star Messi scored twice after going on as a substitute for the last 30 minutes of the game to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Hong Kong Football Association. Napoli striker Gonzalo Higuain and Benfica's Nicolas Gaitan also scored two goals each after Sevilla's Ever Banega had opened scoring in the 19th minute. Argentina started the match with many of its stars, including Messi and English Premier League players Angel Di Maria, Sergio Aguero and Pablo Zabaleta all on the bench. But it hardly made a difference as the Argentina attack shredded the hapless Hong Kong defense, showing no ill effects from the loss to Brazil in smog-ridden Beijing three nights earlier. "The match against Brazil was important and it gave us some questions which we will need to answer in the future. But tonight the teams are on a different level and we played the way we are supposed to," Argentina coach Gerardo Martino. Messi thrilled the 20,000strong crowd six minutes after entering the game when he figured in a sublime onetwo before neatly chipping the ball over Hong Kong goalkeeper Yapp Hung-fai. The Argentine captain then turned provider when he threaded the ball between two defenders for Gaitan to tap in. He scored again after beating three defenders before hammering home a low shot. Even the appearance of a Chinese fan on the pitch failed to ruffle Messi. The man, wearing an Argentine shirt, ran straight toward Messi holding out a pen. Messi coolly accepted the pen and signed the shirt before the fan was pounced on by security guards who marched him away. Injury-time Ronaldo header delivers Portugal COPENHAGEN, OCT 15/-/ A towering header deep into injury-time from Cristiano Ronaldo gave Portugal a 1-0 win over Denmark in their Euro-2016 qualifier yesterday. The Real Madrid forward rose magnificently to head home a cross from Ricardo Quaresma five minutes into time added on, earning a welcome first win for Portugal's new coach Fernando Santos. Portugal lost their opening match in qualifying Group I 1-0 at home to Albania last month, a result that led to the departure of former coach Paulo Bento. And they then went down 2-1 to France in a friendly on Saturday in their first game under Santos. Albania, whose game with Serbia was abandoned before half-time in Belgrade on Tuesday after an incident involving a drone, still top Group I with four points from two games, above Denmark on goal difference, while Portugal are a point back. (AFP) ing for the Wo rld Cup. "We must make sure that we're all together with one goal to develop football in India and help India play in the World Cup sooner," Valc ke said. While addressing the ASSOCHAM interactive session, Valcke said, "It's important because these stars are FC Goa 1-2 Chennaiy in FC people who kids everywhere are dreaming about. It's a way to attract more youngsters. India has huge potential and the Indian Super League is helping." The two-month franchisebased tournament, modelled on cricket's Indian Premier League (IPL), kicked off on Sunday amid a lot of fanfare. Cricket legends such as Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly, Bollywood stars Ranbir Kapur, Hrithik Roshan, John Abraham and Abhishek Bachchan among others are co-owners of the eight franchises. Valcke said it was also of paramount im- portance to develop the game at the grassroot level. "What is important is that whenever you do something at the top level, you don't forget about the grassroot programmes and to develop football at the level of the kids and then come to highest level," the secretary general added on a day when the All India Football Federation signed an MoU with ASSOCHAM to promote football in the country. "Indian football fans have long followed European leagues with enthusiasm but so far it hasn't translated into a big following at home, and the national team is ranked in the 150s," Valcke said. "FIFA has given India the responsibility of organising the under-17 Wo rld Cup in 2017 which is a huge milestone and would also help in the long run, particularly with infrastructure," he said. (PTI) Abhishek Bachchan treated to an away victory Balwant Singh of Chennaiyin FC celebrates after scoring a goal in ISL match against FC Goa FATORDA, OCTO 15/--/Chennaiyin FC edged past FC Goa 2-1 in the fourth match of the ongoing Indian Super League (ISL) played at the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium in Fatorda, Goa, on Wednesday evening . Balwant Singh (32') and Elano Blumer (42') gave the southerners a two-goal cushion in the first half, while Gregory Arnolin (65') managed to pull one back for the Goan franchise. Robert Pires started as the home team's captain in a line-up that included Portuguese midfielder Edgar Marcelino as the playmaker while players like Andre Santos and Ranti Martins were benched. On the other side, player-manager Marco Materazzi benched himself along with India international Jeje Lalpekhlua while opting to start with Brazilian Elano Blumer in the attack and Mikael Silvestre at the helm of his defense. In the eighth minute, the The Gaurs won a corner that was brilliantly headed by Youness Bengelloun although it landed a few yards away from the target. In the next minute, Pires and Marcelino combined with the former fed with a pass inside the box who played it back to Marcelino, whose long ranger went well over the bar. The first chance for the visitors fell to them in the form of a free-kick in the 12th minute when Elano hit the wall. Following a clumsy clearance, the resultant Chennaiyin corner was out of reach for Mendy despite the Frenchman rising highest. The Abhishek Bachchan co-owned team eventually began making some inroads and Bruno Pelissari tried an audacious longranger from midfield with an eye to catch Jan Seda off his line. The Goan side's goalkeeper might as well have left it as the ball went over the bar until they eventually scored the opener two minutes past the half hour mark, but not before Pires wasted a chance down the other end when the Frenchman curled a shot wide in the 27th minute. For the goal, Dhanachandra Singh had sent in a cross from the left and Elano couldn't keep his balance, allowing the ball to fall at Balwant Singh's feet. Admist claims for a penalty, the Mohun Bagan striker became the first Indian to score a goal in the ongoing ISL. Seda got his hand to it but couldn't keep it out. Marcelino took another free-kick for FC Goa from outside the box but his shot took a fortuitous deflection off Gennaro Bracigliano's fist and sailed just over the bar in the 35th minute. Exactly 10 minutes after the deadlock was broken came the second goal courtesy of a well taken freekick by Elano after Prabir Das had appeared to have brought down Balwant just outside the box. The set-piece saw Seda remain grounded with no chance whatsoever as the Brazilian's delicious effort nestled into the back of the net. The initial few exchanges in the second half saw a couple of good chances for the side trailing as Gabriel Fernandes was cut out by Mendy after the Goan had managed to get past a couple of Chennaiyin defenders in one chance while Miguel Herlein almost provided the telling touch to the ball sent in by Marcelino from the left. Holicharan Narzary also tried his luck from distance after good link-up between Pires and Herlein, but the shot was off target just before the Dempo player was substituted in the 62nd minute. The central defensive pair of the hosts went on a rampage as Gregory Arnolin tapped in the ball from close range after Bengelloun had played the ball to him from the right edge of the box in the 65th minute after Herlein had sent in the intial long ball. Pires missed a sitter in the 77th minute. The former Arsenal player was fed with a ball at the edge of the box with the stage perfectly set for a volley from him, but his effort sailed horribly wide of the target. The inclusion of Ranti Martins could have proved pivotal for FC Goa had he to convert the chances that befell him. Hosts Northeast United FC face ATK test GUWAHATI, OCT 15/--/ A tricky test awaits the Northeast United FC as they prepare to host in-form Atletico de Kolkata in what promises to be cracker of a contest in the Indian Super League here tomorrow. The John Abraham coowned franchise will have the packed home crowd on its side but they will need more than that to get the better of the visitors who are high on confidence after the 3-0 drubbing of Mumbai City FC in Sunday's tournament opener. To start with, Northeast United FC pulled off a hard fought 1-0 victory against Kerala Blasters in a packed Indira Gandhi Stadium here even as the latter too fought valiantly till the end. If the hosts are to challenge Kolkata's supr emacy, they will have to think of ways to counter the attacking midfield trio of Borja Fern?ndez, Jofre and Luis Garc?a United FC who flexed their muscles against Mumbai. While Borja scored an absolute blinder against Mumbai, Garc?a ran the show from his position behind the two strikers in the middle of the park. As far as United FC's attack is concerned, Koke, who had scored the sole winner in the first game, will be the man to look out for. The Spanish striker is always a threat and tends to exploit the gaps between the centre-backs and the full-backs. He also has an ability to provide dangerous passes from the flanks. For both sides, it will also be very important to strike a balance between defensive duties and playmaking responsibilities. A lot will depend on how Denzil Franco, who performed admirably in his side's last outing against Mumbai City FC, turns out when up against Koke and Co. After an outstanding job at the post, Subhasish Roy Chowdhury will hope for another good outing against the Northeast outfit. John Abraham promises strong fight against Atletico SHILLONG, OCT 15/--/ Riding high on NorthEast United FC's home win against Kerela Blasters, team co-owner John Abraham has said that his team will put up a strong fight in his side's next Indian Super League (ISL) match against Atletico de Kolkata. The actor and football e n t h u s i a s t Abraham has, however, admitted that the next game would be one of the toughest considering the way they played to beat Mumbai FC at the inaugural match. "Kolkata is a tough side but we are a young team... we will give our heart. We'll put up a fight like no one has ever seen," Abraham told reporters during his one hour-long visit here yesterday. NE United FC pulled off a hard Players of Atletico de Kolkata practice for ISL at the Indira Gandhi Stadium in Guwahati on Wednesday fought 1-0 victory against Kerela Blasters in a packed Indira Gandhi Stadium in Guwahati even as the latter were much better in the game statistically. "They are a bunch of warriors out there," he said, optimistic that his team would give Atletico de Kolkata a tough fight in the latter?s home turf. As for the composition of the NE United FC, Abraham said NE United FC was the only team in the ISL where domestic players had been drawn exclusively from the region. He also said the passion for football across the region was unmatched pointing out that his team co-owner and Shillong Lajong's MD Larsing M Sawyan was a football player himself. The team owners also revealed plans to take the ISL to Shillong, Imphal and Aizawl besides other state capitals in the north east in the coming editions of the lea gue. Speaking on the involvement of Bollywood superstars and cricket players as team owners, Abraham said, "This is important to draw eyeballs initially." However, he said, football was a sport of purist and domestic heroes should be crowd pullers. "As a team owner, my job is to build these domestic heroes," he said negating views that the ISL would turn out to be a show of vanity. (PTI) Printed and published by G P Pradhan, owned by Asish Laha and published from 3, Birendra Krishna Bhadra Sarani, Siliguri-734 001 and printed at Echo Printing Press, Jaduvita, Milan More, Siliguri-734 003. Editor : G P Pradhan. CYMK Sushil Kumar, six others to train in US NEW DELHI, OCT 15/--/ Ace Indian wrestler Sushil Kumar and six other national athletes will be heading for the US in the first week of November to train in the Ohio-based SPIRE Institute, an official Olympic Training Center, through a Sheru Classic initiative. Double Olympic medallist wrestler Sushil, who skipped the Asian Games at Incheon, is now keen to board the US flight to have a feel of the largest indoor sports complex of the world, which is also the home of US wrestling. "I am extremely excited, happy and confident of adding to India's pride at the global level. The training facilities, technological support, personalised training and guidance offered by the SPIRE will surely give us added boost to perform better and fetch great results at the global level," Sushil said. While congratulating Sheru Classic for such opportunity, Sushil also said, "This tie-up will add great thrust to Indian sports. I must congratulate to Sheru Classic for bringing this opportunity closer to Indian talent. I am really excited to get training from Spire Institute. This training will help us in getting equipped with best in class techniques and skill-set for achieving best results in the Olympics." The tie-up between Sheru Classic, an Indian fitness company founded in 2006 by Sheru Aangrish - India's second professional bodybuilder - and SPIRE Institute has opened a gateway for Indian athletes to train in world's best facilities. "Indian athletic capabilities and talent have great potential for every level. Proper preparations and nurturing of global standards will provide great results for the Indian sports. We are excited to establish a partnership with SPIRE Institute, because exposure of Indian athletes at the SPIRE Institute will result into India's pride at the Olympics," Sheru Aangrish, director of Sheru Classic, said in a statement. (PTI) CYMK NEW DELHI, OCT 15/--/ FIFA's secr etar y g eneral Jerome Valcke today said the presence of big names in the Indian Super League (ISL) will help the cricketobsessed nation develop a football culture and could brighten the national team's chances of qualify-