Women enter Oly Qualifiers 2nd round for 1st time

YANGON:THE Indian women’s football team on Tuesday qualified for the Olympic Qualifiers second round for the first time, despite going down to hosts Myanmar 1-2 in a hard-fought clash here.

The Indian women’s team advanced to the second round after finishing second in Group C with four points from three matches, behind table toppers Myanmar. The second round of the Olympic Qualifiers will be played in April next year.

The first half of the match at the Thuwunna Stadium was an exciting affair, with both sides finding the back of the net once. The Indian team, who went into the match with the same starting lineup from their 7-1 win against Bangladesh, was jolted after conceding a goal in just the third minute.

A cross from the right flank caused havoc in the Indian penalty area and the ball fell to Myanmar’s Win Theingi Tun, whose shot deflected off an Indian defender and rolled into the net past custodian Aditi Chauhan.

However, much to their credit, the Indian women responded immediately and pushed forward for the equaliser. Bala Devi, who scored four in the previous game, found space to shoot from a range but she lost her footing at the last moment in the eighth minute.

The next chance also fell to India’s way six minutes later after Sanju charged down the left flank to collect a long-range pass from Kamala Devi and came up with a curling first-time shot. However, the Myanmar keeper was alert and made the save while conceding a corner. The hosts, who drew their last match against Nepal, looked to catch the Indians out on the counter and created two chances .

FA TO PROBE PEP’S REFEREE REMARKS

LONDON: The Football Association (FA) is seeking an explanation from Pep Guardiola regarding his comments about referee Anthony Taylor prior to last weekend’s Manchester derby, British media reported Monday.

City boss Guardiola did not appear to say anything controversial about the official but the FA, English football’s governing body has made it clear previously it would prefer managers not to make any public comment at all about referees.

Taylor, hails from the Manchester suburb of Wythenshawe, near United’s Old Trafford ground. That led some City fans to question his impartiality ahead of Sunday’s match.

MORE INJURY WOES FOR ATLETICO’S COSTA

MADRID: Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa has been sidelined with a foot injury that could leave him in a race for full fitness ahead of a crucial league clash with Barcelona.

Costa hobbled off during a 3-2 league win over Athletic Bilbao on Saturday, which saw the capital side close to within a point of leaders Barcelona.

Costa is sidelined after suffering “an injury to his foot,” according to a statement by Atletico on Tuesday.