Mumbai City FC become first Indian club to win in Champions League
Riyadh(PTI): Mumbai City FC scripted history as they fought back from a goal down to stun Iraqi giants Air Force Club 2-1 and become the first Indian club to win a game at the top-tier AFC Asian Champions League.
After conceding in the 59th minute of the group B fixture, Mumbai City, who won the Indian Super League Shield and trophy in the 2020-21 season, drew level with a penalty by Diego Mauricio in the 70th minute after he was brought down in the box.
Defender Rahul Bheke scored his team's crucial winning goal, with a header in the 75th minute following a corner on Monday night.
Mumbai had lost their opening match to Al Shabab 0-3.
After a goalless first half, substitute Hammadi Ahmad gave three-time AFC Cup champions Air Force Club the lead before Mumbai City rallied with goals from Maur cio and Bheke to seal the historic win at the King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh.
Air Force Club asserted themselves in the game from the early minutes, pinning Mumbai City deep into their own half but the Iraqi side couldn't convert their chances.
Air Force Club's Alaa Abbas was causing all sorts of problems for Mumbai City but the forward should have done better in the ninth minute when his tame effort was easily collected by goalkeeper Phurba Lachenpa.
Mumbai City had their first look at goal just before the half-hour mark, Ahmed Jahouh finding space before setting up for Lallianzuala Chhangte, who blasted his long-range effort wide.
At the other end, Air Force Club missed a chance after Abbas headed a Dhurgham Ismail delivery high above the bar before the latter tried to force his shot from a tight angle.
Hakeem Shakir's side were almost caught off guard in the 31st minute when Mumbai City's Ahmed Jahouh sent an inviting cross into the danger area but Diego Maur cio couldn't keep his headed effort on target.
The best chance of the half fell to Air Force Club in the 34th minute but Hussein Jabbar struggled to guide Ismail's effort into the back of net from close range while Chhangte was forced into a fingertip save three minutes later, denying Abbas' effort.
Vikram Singh had a golden opportunity to put Mumbai City in front two minutes from the break but Jabbar was at the right place to foil his effort.
Air Force Club almost punished Mumbai City in the 52nd minute when Ismail dispossessed Jahouh at the top of the box before setting up Shareef Abdulkadhim, who with only the keeper to beat, sent his effort wide.
The goal finally came for Air Force Club seven minutes later when a swift attacking move deep in Mumbai City's half saw the Iraqi side take the lead after Ahmad cooly nestled the ball into the back of the net from inside the six-yard-box.
Mumbai City, however, were not to be denied when they were awarded a penalty in the 70th minute following Ali Kadhim's foul on Maur cio, with the Brazilian making no mistake to convert from the spot.
The equaliser proved to be a turning point in the game as Bheke doubled Mumbai City's lead, heading home a textbook corner from Jahouh to seal the game and a historic first three points.
Mumbai City will aim to build on the win when they play UAE's Al Jazira on Thursday while Air Force Club will be hoping to bounce back against Saudi Arabia's Al Shabab FC.
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Indian-origin man dies after eight-hour wait at Canada hospital
Edmonton: A 44-year-old Indian-origin man died of a suspected cardiac arrest after waiting for over eight hours without treatment at Grey Nuns Community Hospital in Edmonton, Canada, raising serious concerns about emergency healthcare delays.
The deceased, Prashant Sreekumar, was taken to the hospital on December 22 after he complained of severe chest pain while at work. Despite his condition, he was reportedly made to wait in the emergency room for several hours without being admitted for treatment, NDTV reported.
His father, Kumar Sreekumar, soon reached the hospital. "He told me, 'Papa, I cannot bear the pain,'" NDTV quoted Kumar Sreekumar as saying.
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Doctors conducted an electrocardiogram (ECG) but reportedly told the family that there was nothing alarming. Prashant was then asked to continue waiting. During this time, his blood pressure continued to rise, and he was given only Tylenol for pain relief.
After waiting for more than eight hours, Prashant was finally taken into the treatment area. Moments later, he collapsed after clutching his chest. "After sitting maybe 10 seconds, he looked at me, he got up and put his hand on his chest and just crashed," Kumar Sreekumar said.
Nurses called for help and tried to resuscitate him, but it was too late. Prashant Sreekumar died of an apparent cardiac arrest, leaving behind his wife and three children, ages three, 10 and 14.
Grey Nuns Community Hospital, operated by Covenant Health reportedly said, it could not comment on individual patient care but confirmed that the incident is under review by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. The hospital expressed condolences to the family and said patient safety remains its top priority.
