Tag: Football

Sports

Legal Titans Stay in Semifinal Race; United Brothers Extend Winning Streak in Advocates Cricket League

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral Sports Desk

Legal Titans and United Brothers produced impressive performances in Sunday’s Advocates Cricket League 2025–26 T20 matches at the Chicalim ground, Vasco, keeping fans engaged with competitive cricket. United Brothers continued their dominant run by registering their fourth consecutive victory, while Legal Titans stayed alive in the race for the semifinals with a convincing win.

In the opening encounter, Lotlikar Lions set a challenging total of 167 for 8 in their 20 overs. Venkatesh Rathod led the charge with a powerful 79 off 40 balls, striking seven fours and four sixes, while Prashant Borkar added a steady 45. Legal Titans responded strongly with the ball, as Satchit Mauskar delivered a standout spell to claim four wickets, well supported by Jeevan Divkar who picked up two.

Chasing the target, Legal Titans made light work of the chase, racing to 168 for 4 in just 15 overs. Pravin Gawas played a blistering knock of 68 from 37 balls, smashing six fours and five sixes, while Satyam Ghogale contributed a solid 37 to seal a morale-boosting victory and keep their semifinal hopes intact.

In the second match, United Brothers were bowled out for 134 in 17.3 overs, with Rahul Shet, Dattaraj Gawas and Dattaraj Parab providing key contributions. Risers’ bowlers Dattaraj Arondekar and Sandeep Naik picked up three wickets apiece to restrict the total.

However, Risers failed to capitalise on the modest target and were dismissed for 106 in 18.1 overs. Raghu Parab starred with the ball for United Brothers, claiming four wickets, while Dattaraj Parab added two more to complete a comfortable win.

With these results, United Brothers moved to the top of the table with eight points from four matches, pushing 18 Juners to second place. Legal Titans remain firmly in contention and are set to face the unbeaten United Brothers next, a clash that could prove decisive in shaping the semifinal line-up of the tournament.

Sports

18 Juners, United Brothers Open ACL-7 Campaign with Winning Starts

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral Sports Desk

The seventh season of the Advocates Cricket League (ACL-7) commenced on Sunday at the SAG ground in Chicalim, with competitive cricket and spirited participation from the legal fraternity. The opening day witnessed 18 Juners and United Brothers registering victories in their respective matches, marking confident starts to their campaigns.

In the first encounter of the day, 18 Juners defeated Lotlikar Lions by 15 runs in a closely contested match. Batting first, 18 Juners posted a total of 144 for 9 in their allotted 20 overs, with Viraj Tar top-scoring with 37 runs, while Abhay Rivonkar and Sahish Mahambrey contributed 21 and 19 respectively. The bowlers of Lotlikar Lions kept things tight, with Chetan Sangelkar returning figures of 2 for 25.

In reply, Lotlikar Lions managed 129 for 9 in 20 overs despite efforts from Aditya Naik, who scored 29, and Prashant Borkar with 25. Kashinath Posnaik emerged as the standout performer for 18 Juners, delivering an all-round performance by scoring 14 runs and claiming three wickets for 25 runs, earning him the Man of the Match award.

The second match saw United Brothers edge past Lawyer Challengers by three wickets in an exciting chase. Lawyer Challengers posted 148 for 7, with Shailesh Redkar scoring a solid 51 and Dattaprasad Shirodkar adding 43. Mylen D’Souza was impressive with the ball for United Brothers, picking up three wickets for 26 runs.

Chasing the target, United Brothers reached 149 for 7 in 19.3 overs, guided by a superb unbeaten knock of 73 runs off 49 balls by Dattaraj Parab, which included eight boundaries and a six. He received able support from Raghu Parab and Dattaraj Gawas, scoring 26 and 25 respectively. Dattaraj Parab was deservedly named Man of the Match for his match-winning innings.

Earlier, the tournament was formally inaugurated in the presence of the chief guest, Irshad Agha, Principal District and Sessions Judge, North Goa, while Civil Judge (Junior Division), JMFC Margao, Adv. Sabino Braganza, attended as the guest of honour. Advocates Cricket League president Adv. Iftikhar Agha briefed the gathering about the tournament, highlighting its role in promoting sportsmanship, camaraderie, and team spirit among members of the legal fraternity.

Several dignitaries including Adv. S. N. Joshi, Adv. Gajanan Korgaonkar, SAG officer Prajyot Chodankar, senior advocate Saresh Lotlikar and others were present at the opening ceremony. With competitive matches and enthusiastic participation, ACL-7 promises an exciting season of cricket that blends sporting excellence with professional camaraderie.

Sports

Morocco Triumphs Over Jordan to Lift FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025™

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Morocco lifted the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025™ following an unforgettable 3-2 victory over Jordan in a gripping final at Lusail Stadium. The match, which went into extra time, saw Morocco produce a dramatic comeback led by striker Abderrazak Hamdallah, who scored a late equaliser and the winning goal in the 100th minute.

Jordan had initially taken the lead through a brace by tournament top-scorer Ali Olwan, after Oussama Tannane stunned the crowd with a spectacular long-range opener for Morocco inside four minutes. The Atlas Lions’ resilience and tactical discipline shone through, ensuring Morocco’s second major triumph in Qatar after their historic semi-final run in the 2022 FIFA World Cup™.

The FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025™ brought together 16 teams from Africa and Asia, showcasing the region’s footballing talent across six World Cup-ready stadiums. Morocco’s victory not only crowned them champions but also underscored their continued rise in international football. The tournament concluded alongside Qatar National Day celebrations, wrapping up a two-month period of major FIFA events in the Gulf, following Portugal’s U-17 World Cup win and PSG’s Intercontinental Cup success.

Sports

IPL 2026 to Begin on March 26, Final Scheduled for May 31

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral Sports Desk

The Indian Premier League 2026 season is set to begin on Thursday, March 26, with the final scheduled for Sunday, May 31. The dates for the upcoming edition were revealed by IPL CEO Hemang Amin during a briefing with all ten franchises ahead of the mini-auction held in Abu Dhabi, according to Cricbuzz. While the complete match schedule is yet to be announced, it is expected to be made public in the coming days.

It has been confirmed that defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru will feature in the opening fixture of the tournament. However, uncertainty remains over whether the match will be played at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Traditionally, the IPL season opener is hosted at the home venue of the defending champions, but the availability of the stadium is yet to be finalised.

The Karnataka State Cricket Association has received conditional clearance from the state government to host IPL matches, with final approval pending the fulfilment of safety and security requirements. The venue has not hosted matches since a tragic stampede outside the stadium during victory celebrations last year resulted in the loss of 11 lives, following which even Women’s World Cup matches were relocated.

Ahead of the auction, the Board of Control for Cricket in India held a meeting with representatives of all ten franchises, during which teams were informed about the tentative window for the tournament. Attention will now shift to the IPL 2026 auction, where franchises will compete for 77 available slots, including 31 overseas player positions. The highest reserve price has been set at ₹2 crore, with 40 players registering in this bracket.

Several prominent international and domestic players, including Cameron Green, David Miller, Devon Conway, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Gus Atkinson, Wanindu Hasaranga, Venkatesh Iyer and Liam Livingstone, have entered the auction at the top base price. Meanwhile, notable absentees from the auction list include Glenn Maxwell and Faf du Plessis. As teams prepare to finalise their squads, anticipation continues to build for the return of one of cricket’s most-watched tournaments.

Human Interest

World’s Tallest Messi Statue Unveiled in Kolkata Ahead of GOAT Tour

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral

A towering 70-foot iron statue of football legend Lionel Messi has been completed in Kolkata, with organisers calling it the largest statue of the Argentine superstar in the world. Created by the Sree Bhumi Sporting Club at Lake Town in South Dum Dum, the massive installation depicts Messi proudly lifting the FIFA World Cup trophy — an image etched permanently into football history. The final finishing touches are currently underway, led by Monty Paul and his team, as the surrounding area is also being readied for the grand reveal.

West Bengal Minister and Sree Bhumi Sporting Club President Sujit Bose confirmed that the statue, despite its size and complexity, was completed in an astonishing forty days. Speaking to ANI, he said, “This is a very big statue, 70 foot in height. There is no other statue of Messi this big in the world. Messi is coming to Kolkata, and there are a lot of fans of Messi.” Bose recalled the legacy of world football icons who have visited Kolkata over the years, noting that Maradona, Emiliano Martinez and Ronaldinho had all graced the city, making Messi’s arrival feel even more historic for fans.

He shared that the idea for the statue grew naturally from local expectations. “People were saying we have a statue of Maradona, so why won’t there be one of Messi,” Bose explained. The timing of the tribute has generated added excitement, with Bose emphasising its significance ahead of the 2026 World Cup: “Messi will like this statue. Inauguration will be on the 13th virtually from Kolkata.”

Organisers stated that while Messi’s security concerns prevent him from being physically present, he will inaugurate the statue virtually on December 13. They assured that the finishing work would be completed within the next couple of days. Bose also acknowledged the strong support of state authorities, saying, “The Government has helped us a lot.”

The installation has already captured the imagination of football fans across West Bengal, with many expressing anticipation for the official unveiling. According to the organisers, the massive tribute celebrates not only Messi’s unparalleled legacy but also the deep emotional connection the people of Kolkata share with the sport. The city, known for its passionate football culture, now prepares to honour one of the most celebrated athletes of all time with a monument befitting his global stature.