AAO KHELEIN

Manchester United have confirmed the appointment of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as their full-time manager on a three-year contract. Solskjaer was appointed as caretaker manager on 19 December 2018 after the departure of Jose Mourinho. He won his first eight games as an in-charge on the overall record of 14 victories and two draws in 19 games, amassing more Premier League points than any other club during that time. "From the first day I arrived, I felt at home at this special club," Solskjaer was quoted by Manchester United. Solskjaer scored 126 goals in 366 appearances for United between 1996 and 2007. "It was an honour to be a Manchester United player, and then to start my coaching career here. The last few months have been a fantastic experience and I want to thank all of the coaches, players and staff for the work we've done so far. This is the job that I always dreamed of doing and I'm beyond excited to have the chance to lead the club long-term and hopefully...

A photo exhibition on FIFA World Cup 2018, covering the length & breath of Russia was showcased at the Russian Cultural Centre this week.   The wide range of stunning action pictures from the FIFA World Cup 2018 were a big hit with sports lovers who turned up at the exhibition.   During the event, a book on FIFA World Cup Russia was launched by Member Secretary SDAT Shri Chandrasekhar Sikhamuri IAS. in the presence of Russian Consul Gennadi A Ragalev who was first recipient of the book.   The FIFA Photo Book was also presented to former DGP W I Dawaram the president of Tamil Nadu Athletics Association, Hockey legend V Baskaran, four times Olympian Shiny Wilson and famous footballers Raman Vijayan and Sabir Patcha. Padmasri Nalli Kuppusamy Chetty was the special guest at the valedictory function on March 20th.   About the photographer: S. SUKUMAR an Accredited Sports Photographer has covered innumerable sporting events around the globe, viz, Olymp...

Cristiano Ronaldo has been fined 20,000 euros (USD 22,750) by UEFA for making a provocative gesture after Juventus beat Atletico Madrid in the ChampionsLeague. UEFA says its disciplinary panel found the Juventus star guilty of improper conduct. Ronaldo was fined the same sum imposed on Atletico coach Diego Simeone for the same gesture during the round of 16 first-leg game in Spain. Ronaldo scored a hat-trick in a 3-0 win in the return leg in Turin to send Juventus to the quarterfinals and celebrated at the final whistle by mimicking Simeone's gesture. In the quarter-final, Juventus will face Dutch side Ajax next month. via Sify.com https://ift.tt/2Tl15lK

Sevilla: Barcelona consolidated its leadership position atop the La Liga rankings with a 4-1 victory over Real Betis, a win featuring a hat trick by Lionel Messi against a rival who fought until virtually the last moments of the contest. Barca, with just 10 matches to go before the La Liga season concludes, is now 10 points ahead of Atletico de Madrid, who lost its match on Saturday against Athletic Club, and 12 points ahead of Real Madrid, reports Efe news. Although Barca practically has the title in its pocket, Betis must still fight like the devil to remain in European competition next season and is currently in eighth place with 39 points. Betis, had it won its Sunday match, could have dislodged Valencia from the seventh spot in that pitched battle for European slots, but the fact that his squad was going up against the Barcelona powerhouse did not motivate Betis coach Quique Setien to change the philosophy with which he led the team. Barcelona, although it controlled the bal...

Full-back Rahul Bheke scored in second half of extra time as Bengaluru FC edged past FC Goa 1-0 in Mumbai to lift their first Indian Super League (ISL) title. Local boy Bheke headed in from a Dimas Delgado corner in the 118th minute after both teams were locked goalless in regulation time at the Mumbai Football Arena. This is Bengaluru FC's sixth trophy in as many seasons. "We feel on top of the world," skipper Sunil Chhetri said after the match. "We topped the league table like last year. We lost the final that time, but this year's story is different. We knew our power was in attack. Had to work hard in defence as they attacked very well," striker Miku said. "We pushed so much in extra time, got a red card and that changed the game. We did really well throughout the season. We deserved to win but it was our bad luck," a dejected Goa skipper Mandar Rao Desai said. After no goals separated the teams at the end of normal time, Bheke headed hom...

The Champions League quarterfinal line-up was finalised in Nyon, Switzerland in which Manchester United and Barcelona have been drawn together. The two clubs have eight Champions League titles between them. Barcelona's most-recent win came in 2015, while United have not won the silverware since 2008. The other quarterfinals pit Ajax againat Juventus, Liverpool Vs Porto and Tottenham against Manchester City. Among the four English teams in the last eight, Spurs and Manchester City have never won the European title. After their dominating performance in the EPL, it will not be wrong to say that Manchester City are one of the favorites to win the Champions League this season. The first legs will be played on April 9 and 10, with the return games are April 16 and 17. The final is slated for June 1 in Madrid. via Sify.com https://ift.tt/2u72UbQ

India will host the seventh edition of the FIFA Under-17 Women's World Cup, to be held in 2020. India will gain a direct qualification as hosts of the tournament and will be participating in the biennial tournament for the first time. India had failed to get automatic qualification for the 2018 edition after finishing third in their AFC under-16 championship qualifying group, behind South Korea and Philippines. Only the top three teams from the AFC Under-16 Championship qualify for the Under-17 Women's World Cup. In the last World Cup held in Uruguay in 2018, Spain had defeated Mexico to lift the prestigious title while New Zealand and Canada had finished third and fourth respectively. North Korea is the only nation to have won the Cup twice. Japan in 2014, France in 2012 and South Korea in 2010 have been the other winners. The development comes after India played hosts to FIFA U-17 men's World Cup in 2017. The India men's team were knocked out in the group stages,...

Lionel Messi scored a brace as Barcelona beat Lyon 5-1 and move into the Champions League quarterfinals. Meanwhile, Liverpool defeated Bayern Munich to advance to the next round. Messi had two goals and two assists in the victory. Both teams played to a goalless draw in the first leg in France. Barcelona captain Messi opened the scoring with a penalty-kick goal in the 17th minute by chipping the ball down the middle after Luis Suarez was fouled. Philippe Coutinho pushed Barca's lead to 2-0 in the 31st minute with a score. Lyon answered with a goal from Lucas Tousart in the 58th minute. Messi ended the comeback attempt, carving through Lyon's defense for a goal in the 78th minute. Gerard Pique (81st minute) and Ousmane Dembele (86th minute) added goals to clinch the victory. Liverpool's Sadio Mane scored a goal in each half to guide his club to a 3-1 win in the round of 16. The first leg between Liverpool and Bayern was a scoreless draw. Mane got Liverpool on the boar...

Zinedine Zidane has made a sensational return as coach of Real Madrid after Santiago Solari's sacking. The French legend, who was part of France's World Cup winning squad of 1998, has been given a contract until June 2022, just nine months after he resigned at the end of last season, having led Madrid to an historic third consecutive Champions League triumph. Solari's dismissal was expected after three consecutive home defeats - twice to Barcelona, and to Ajax in the Champions League. The latest setbacks before the middle of March have all-but finished Real's season. This makes Zidane's return with only 11 games left in La Liga and almost nothing to play for, a surprise. If one may recall, he had left Madrid on the incredible high of yet another European triumph. "Real Madrid's board has decided to terminate Santiago Solari's contract as coach of the first team. Real Madrid appreciates the work done by Santiago Solari and the commitment and loyalty...

Liverpool: Liverpool on Sunday had to survive Burnley's scare on both ends of the game to secure a 4-2 win on the strength of two braces by Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino, keeping the pace with the Premier Leagues standing leader Manchester City. Burnley had a powerful start to the game, taking the lead just six minutes into the first half, when English midfielder Ashley Westwood scored directly from a corner kick, a so-called Olympic goal, amid protests by Liverpool players who claimed a foul against Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson. Liverpool needed just 13 minutes to draw level as Egyptian talisman Mohamed Salah collected his seventh Premier League assist of the season, sending a low cross into the penalty area, reports Efe news. A misunderstanding between goalkeeper Tom Heaton and defender James Tarkowski allowed Salah's cross to reach unmarked forward Roberto Firmino of Brazil who put the ball into the wide-open post from a close range. Shortly before the half-hour mark,...

Manchester: Manchester City extended their lead at the top of the English Premier League to four points after a hat-trick from forward Raheem Sterling saw them beat Watford 3-1 here. Sterling's first goal in the 46th minute at the Etihad Stadium here on Saturday evening was highly contentious. Sterling was clearly offside when Sergio Aguero played the ball to him before Watford full back Daryl Janmaat's challenge saw the ball ricochet off the England forward into the goal, reports Efe news. The assistant referee raised his flag for offside, but after a lengthy discussion without the use of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), the goal was allowed to stand. City's second goal came just four minutes later when Sterling tapped in from Riyad Mahrez's cross from the right. City were rampant and the game was effectively settled less than 10 minutes later when the England winger completed his hat-trick with a cool finish past Ben Foster after being played in by David Silv...

Manchester United's 100 per cent away record under manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer ended at the Emirates Stadium here on Sunday as they lost to Arsenal 2-0. Granit Xhaka, opened the scoring for Arsenal as he managed to strike a goal just 12 minutes into the game with a swerving shot from 30 yards. This shot by Xhaka seemed to have flat-footed David de Gea. Looking at the first sight, it looked like a horrible one for the top-class goalkeeper. The Spanish goalkeeper was quick for his own good, anticipating the initial shot to his left only for it to deviate massively to his right. United failed to make their presence felt in attacking aspect of the game and as a result, the game was put beyond them when Aubameyang converted from the spot after Alexandre Lacazette went to ground under pressure from Fred. After the miracle win in Paris on Wednesday against Paris Saint-German in Champions League, this loss against Arsenal would hamper their morale going ahead in the league. Manches...

Manchester United made history, beating Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) on away goals in a 3-3 aggregate draw to become the first team in the annals of the Champions League to prevail in a tie after losing the first leg at home by two or more goals. PSG, meanwhile, find themselves dumped out of the competition in the knockout stage for the third consecutive year, reports Efe news. Starting with a 2-0 advantage after their hard-fought victory at Old Trafford, PSG on Wednesday looked poised to break their Champions League curse and justify the fortune the club's Qatari owners have spent in pursuit of a European title. And while injured PSG superstar Neymar had to watch the game from the stands at Parc des Princes, United were without Paul Pogba, Juan Mata, Ander Herrera and Alexis Sanchez. With so many holes in his roster, visiting coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer took a conservative approach in terms of formation and tactics. But a colossal mistake by PSG defender Thilo Kehrer left goalke...

Ajax Amsterdam thrashed three-time defending champions Real Madrid 4-1 in the second leg at the Santiago Bernabeu to advance to the Champions League quarterfinals with a historic 5-3 aggregate comeback victory. This is Madrid's worst home defeat in their European history. Hosts Real, leading 2-1 from the first leg in Amsterdam and without suspended Sergio Ramos, were denied a dream start inside of five minutes when Raphael Varane smashed a headed shot from a Lucas Vazquez inswinger off the crossbar. Minutes later, Ajax capitalised on a defensive blunder from Madrid and Tadic teed up Hakim Ziyech for a superb first-time finish to give the Dutch club an early 1-0 lead. Tadic then set up Ajax's second before the 20-minute mark, breaking free from his defender with a sensational move and playing a through ball behind the Real defence to David Neres, who rounded Thibaut Courtois and finished into an empty net to double the visitors' lead. The third goal for Ajax came when T...

Indian Under-17 World Cup star Aniket Jadhav will undergo a training spell at the English Championship football club Blackburn Rovers, a statement said on Tuesday. Jadhav played in all three matches for India at the Under-17 World Cup held in October 2017. Blackburn Rovers - one of only six of the English Premier League champions - alongside Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester City and Leicester City - are owned by Venkys London Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Pune-based poultry conglomerate Venkateshwara Hatcheries Group (VH Group). Jadhav will be the first Indian professional player to train in England at Blackburn Rovers' Academy at Brockhall village, Lancashire. "We, as supporters of sport, especially football, want to help young Indian talent. Our Academy at Blackburn Rovers is one of the finest Category 1 Academy in the UK. "This training stint will help Aniket develop technically as a player, which will in turn contribute to the improvement ...

Barcelona made La Liga history on Saturday by defeating Real Madrid 1-0 to become the first side to win four straight league away matches at the Bernabeu. Ivan Rakitic scored the game's only goal as Barca claimed a second win over Madrid in four days, leaving Los Blancos with little in the way of La Liga title hopes as Barcelona opened up a 10-point gap over Atletico Madrid at the top of the table. The win also gave Barcelona a lead in the all-time series between the two clubs for the first time in 88 years, having now won 96 times to Madrid's 95. Not since 1931 has the Catalan club held the overall series lead. With this win, Barcelona have kept their hopes of a treble alive. A commanding lead in La Liga, a final against Valencia in the Copa del Rey final in May in the waiting and a round-of-16 tie against Lyon in the Champions League that is finely poised with the first leg having finished 0-0. Madrid boss Santiago Solari has now failed to find a victory in his first thr...

A brace from Luis Suarez (50', 73' PEN) and a Rafael Varane own goal (69') helped Barcelona inflict another defeat on Real Madrid and move within touching distance of winning a record fifth consecutive Copa del Rey. Madrid conceded three goals in 28 chaotic, second-half minutes to send Barca through to the final with a 3-0 victory, 4-1 on aggregate. "We have other players apart from Leo Messi that can score goals. Luis' numbers are incredible, historic for Barca. We know he is always there," Barca coach Ernesto Valverde said. Ernesto Valverde’s side took the lead when Ousmane Dembele found space on the left and played a pass back for the advancing Suarez, who beat Sergio Ramos to the ball and poked past Keylor Navas into the Costa Rican’s right-hand corner. Barca then went two up as Dembele took advantage of a space left by Reguilon and sent in an inviting ball to the far post which Raphael Varane could only turn into his own net from close range under pr...