respectively for the financial

they visit Atletico Madrid at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium, scene of their triumph in the final last season. Son double sinks Villa to send Spurs fifth S o n H e u n g - m i n struck a stoppage time winner, after a dreadful error from Bjorn Engels, as Tottenham Hotspur won 3-2 at Aston Villa to move up to fifth in the Premier League. In an enthralling match, Villa went ahead in the ninth minute when Spurs defender Toby Alderweireld turned an Anwar El Ghazi’s cross into his own net. But the Belgian centre-half made amends for that area when he fired Tottenham back on to level terms with a superb shot on the turn from inside the box. VAR intervened to award the visitors a penalty after reviewing a challenge on Steven Bergwijn by Villa defender Engels and ruling that he had brought down the Spurs forward.

Son’s weak penalty, after a stuttering approach run, was saved by Pepe Reina but the South Korean was the quickest to react as he bundled home the loose ball to send Spurs in ahead at the break. Then it was the turn of Engels to cancel out his earlier error - the Belgian rising to meet a Jack Grealish corner and power in a header to make it 2-2. But Engels was to end the game in despair as he mis-kicked a long ball forward and allowed Son to race clear and fire past Reina to take the three points.

Sadio Mané (right) makes the vital breakthrough for Liverpool at Norwich.

N O RW I C H , F E B 1 6 (AGENCIES): Liverpool’s Sadio Mane marked his return from injury with a late goal to break Norwich City’s resistance and secure a 1-0 win on Saturday to extend his side’s Premier League lead to 25 points.

On a windy evening, bottom club Norwich were proving a tough nut to crack for Juergen Klopp’s team but Senegalese forward Mane, who came on as a substitute on the hour, pounced to drill home a fine finish from inside the area in the 78th minute. It was his first appearance since going off injured in Liverpool’s win at Wolverhampton Wanderers on Jan. 23 and he marked it by claiming a 100th goal in English football.

A battling Norwich had defended resolutely and twice came close to taking the lead, but Liverpool’s relentless romp towards a first English title for 30 years continued.

Victory was their 34th in their last 35 league games and their 17th in succession, one shy of Manchester City’s record.

They have scored in 35 successive Premier League games, are unbeaten in their last 43 and have conceded only once in their last 11 league games.

Fifteen more points will guarantee them the title as they have collected 76 points out of a possible 78, now 25 ahead of Manchester City, who have played a game less. “It was a difficult game for different reasons,” Klopp said. “The wind, the organisation of the opponent and the way we played in the first half made it tricky for us.

“Sadio was fresh and made the difference.”

Norwich, for whom Alexander Tettey struck the woodwork in the second half, remain seven points adrift of 17th-placed Aston Villa who host Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday. They battled until the end, however, and Teemu Pukki fired straight at Alisson in the 89th minute after a flowing move.

“It was moment of magic from Mane to win the game,” Norwich boss Daniel Farke said. “We were pretty close to coming away with a good result. The lads left their hearts on the pitch.” With the title virtually assured, Liverpool turn their attention to their defence of the Champions League on Tuesday when

First blind football camp in Nagaland concludes

Staff Reporter D I M A P U R , F E B 1 6 (NPN): Nagaland Blind Football (NBF) demonstration and training camp culminated on Sunday, at Don Bosco Higher Secondary School ground, Dimapur.

The two-day camp was organized by State Disability Forum and Prodigals Home in collaboration with the Indian Blind Football Federation which is the first of its kind in Nagaland.

During the second day, blind football demo match was played between Meghalaya and Shillong team, wherein Shillong emerged victorious by a solitary goal.

Deputy Commissioner (DC) Dimapur Anoop Khinchi (IAS) graced the closing ceremony as the special guest. In his speech, DC lauded the organizers for taking such an initiative. While encouraged the gathering to understand the rights of disability, he suggested that society should work together to remove the barriers of the differently-abled people to make them live a normal life

While also spoke on the importance of sports which helps in mental and physical growth.

Indian Blind Football Federation (IBFF) sports director Sunil J Mathew added that such programs would pave way for the visually impaired to come out and participate in sports. “There is talent here, and definitely, football is in the air of NE states”, he said.

At the closing program, invocation prayer was offered by Convention Baptist Church, Dimapur pastor Yabang Longkumer, special number presented by blind boys/girls and Thahekhu Baptist church Linoka Aye.

Later, the vote of thanks was delivered by Prodigals Home, K Ela and benediction prayer was offered by Thahekhu village Baptist Church, associate pastor women, Dr. L Phitoli Khala. Certificates distributions to the participants were also held during the culmination program. Visually impaired players representing Shillong and Meghalaya seen in action during the demo football match at Dimapur. (NP)

Whirlwind Chennaiyin down ATK 3-1

Ko lka ta , FEB 16 (AGENCIES): Chennaiyin put on a fine display away from home to seal three crucial points against ATK in a 3-1 result in the Indian Super League (ISL) on Sunday at the Salt Lake Stadium. Antonio Lopez Habas made just one change to the ATK lineup which defeated Odisha FC in their last match. Anas Edathodika replaced Michael Soosairaj.

Anirudh Thapa and Andre Schembri returned to the Chennaiyin FC lineup, replacing Thoi Singh and Masih Saighani. It was an actionpacked first half with end-toend football on offer right from the beginning.

Chennaiyin broke the deadlock in the 7th minute of the match. Rafael Crivellaro picked up a through ball from Eli Sabia near the centre circle and made a solo run down the middle and found the back of the net. The ATK midfielders did not even attempt to block the Italian’s run.

ATK came close to equalising on quite a few occasions but failed to convert their chances. The visitors then doubled the lead in the 39th minute when Andre Schembri found the back of the net from Thapa’s corner. Arindam misjudged the flight of Thapa’s corner before Schembri headed

the ball into the net.

ATK responded almost immediately as they pulled one back. Roy Krishna received a long ball from Javier Hernandez inside the Chennaiyin box and placed the ball into the net. The second half was as entertaining as the first as both teams played to score more goals.

Chhangte could have sealed the win for his team in the 49th-minute but he squandered the easiest chance of the match. Crivellaro attempted a shot from inside the box which Arindam stopped but Chhange had an empty net to bury the rebound but he failed to hit the target.

In the final minute of the match, from a quick counterattack, Thapa sent a long ball for Valskis who found the back of the net and Chennaiyin secured a big win in their race for the top four. Nerijus Valskis