Football Roundup | India lift Tri-Nation cup; Champions League draw groups Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund and Tottenham Hotspur together
Though a late goal by St Kitts & Nevis prevented India from winning the game, a draw was enough for the Blue Tigers to lift the Tri-Nation title. Elsewhere, the UEFA Champions League draw put defending champions Real Madrid together with Borussia Dortmund and Tottenham Hotspur in the group of death.
India took the lead in the 38th minute of the game, through a stunning header by Jackichand Singh after a cross by Rowllin Borges from the right wing. However, the home side wasted several chances to put the game to bed after that and thereby kept St Kitts & Nevis in the game right until the final quarter.
Eventually, India paid the price for their missed opportunities as the away side equalized through Amory Gvaune who struck in the 72nd minute, after being assisted by Tiano Hanley, which forced India to share the spoils with the opposition who are currently ranked 125th in the world.
Barring an early break in the opening minute of the encounter by Hanley Tishan who shot wide on a quick counter, it was India who dominated most of the game. But, the chances came and went for the home side as the likes of Balwant Singh, skipper Sandesh Jhinghan, and Robin Singh, all squandered easy goal scoring opportunities with one even hitting the crossbar.
Despite the draw though, India finished as the winners of the round robin tournament as they had previously defeated Mauritius 2-1, while St Kitts & Nevis finished as the runner-up.
On the other hand, this season's UEFA Champions League will see some really exciting action as there were no easy groups per say after the draw took place yesterday in Monaco. Defending champions Real Madrid have perhaps been put in the toughest group, where they will face Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund and Premier League title contenders Tottenham Hotspur, apart from Cyprus club Apoel Nicosia in Group H.
Meanwhile, Barcelona have got an equally competitive Group D as they play Serie A winners Juventus, apart from Greek side Olympiakos and Portuguese giants Sporting Lisbon. Premier League clubs, other than Spurs, have found themselves in comparatively easier groups.
Manchester United are undoubtedly the favourites from Group A as they face likes of Portuguese giants Benfica, Russia’s CSKA Moscow and Switzerland’s FC Basel. Arch rivals Manchester City, on the other hand, will face Italian club Napoli, Dutch side Feyenoord, and Ukraine’s Shakhtar Donetsk.
Finally, Liverpool would fancy their chances of progressing from the group stages as they face La Liga side Sevilla, Russia’s Spartak Moscow and Slovenian side Maribor, who would definitely be the underdogs. Chelsea, meanwhile,
Here is the complete 2017/18 UEFA Champions League Group Stage draw!
— #UCLdraw (@ChampionsLeague) August 24, 2017
Most exciting group?#UCLdraw pic.twitter.com/Jf9ebJrJ9t
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