Cristiano Ronaldo will travel to India to face FC Goa in an Asian Champions League Two match being hailed as “historic” in the country.
Al-Nassr of Saudi Arabia and its superstars were drawn Friday against the Indian Super League (ISL) club in Group D of Asia’s second-tier club competition, along with Istiklol of Tajikistan and Iraq’s Al-Zawraa. The top two from each of the eight groups advance to the second round.
“This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime moment for FC Goa,” club CEO Ravi Puskur told The Associated Press. “To host Al-Nassr and Cristiano Ronaldo is arguably the biggest game in Indian club football history.”
Ronaldo, 40, has yet to win a major trophy since signing for the Riyadh club in 2022 and the team is expected to be at full strength when the action starts in September
Al-Nassr, which finished third in the Saudi Pro League last season, also boasts famous names such as former Liverpool star Sadio Mane and Joao Felix, the Portuguese forward who signed from Chelsea in July.
“For Indian football, this is historic,” Puskur added. “We are here on merit, and a match like this gives us the chance to show that we can compete on the continental stage, becoming part of the sport’s biggest narratives.”
Puskur is confident that the excitement will be felt all over the country to give the local game a much-needed boost.
“It’s a unique opportunity to bring global attention to Indian football and, most importantly, a chance to spark a greater interest in Indian football among fans across the country, giving the game the spotlight it has long needed,” he said.
The draw comes with Indian domestic soccer in crisis. The 2025-26 ISL season was due to start in September, but has been suspended due to uncertainty over the renewal of an organizing agreement between the Indian federation and its commercial partner, the Football Sports Development Ltd., pending a Supreme Court order.
Bengaluru FC, Odisha FC and Chennaiyin FC have either suspended salaries or ceased soccer operations until a solution is found.
“While the financial boost is important, the bigger picture is the opportunity this creates for long-term growth,” said Puskur. “The global attention, sponsorship interest, and fan engagement from a moment like this help strengthen the club’s foundations, allowing us to invest in the future.”
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
FILE - Al Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo, right, and Al Hilal's Al Bulayhi challenge for the ball during Riyadh Season Cup 2024 final match at the Kingdom Arena Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024. (AP Photo, file)
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Rookie Beckett Sennecke had two assists and then scored in the shootout, sending the Anaheim Ducks to a 3-2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings on Friday night.
Mason McTavish ended it with a third-round shootout goal for the Ducks, who rallied from an early two-goal deficit for their second straight victory after a nine-game skid.
Tim Washe scored his first NHL goal and Ryan Strome got his first goal in a month for the Ducks when Southern California’s two NHL teams opened a back-to-back, home-and-home chapter of the Freeway Faceoff rivalry by going to their second shootout of the season. Lukas Dostal made 26 saves.
Joel Armia had a goal and an assist in his return from a five-game injury absence for the Kings, who have lost five of six.
Darcy Kuemper stopped 26 shots, but the Canadian Olympian couldn't stop the famously deliberate shootout style of McTavish, one of the NHL's most successful shootout scorers.
Quinton Byfield put the Kings ahead on their first shot on goal 98 seconds after the opening faceoff, beating Dostal for his ninth goal off a rush set up by Armia.
Neither team mounted a consistent offensive attack for two periods, but Armia made it 2-0 for the Kings midway through the second with a one-timer off a backhand pass from Andre Lee.
Strome answered 39 seconds later, putting a shot past a screen from Sennecke for his second goal in 22 games.
Less than three minutes after that, Washe alertly located a rebound off the boards and beat Kuemper from a sharp angle for his inaugural goal in his sixth NHL game. The 24-year-old undrafted forward won an NCAA title last spring with Western Michigan.
The Ducks played without their top two scorers due to injury. Leo Carlsson had treatment earlier in the day on a thigh injury that could endanger his participation in the Olympics, while Troy Terry (upper body) went on injured reserve before missing his fourth straight game.
A rematch in Anaheim on Saturday night.
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/NHL
Los Angeles Kings left wing Jeff Malott, top, knocks Anaheim Ducks defenseman Olen Zellweger to the ice during the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Jan. 16, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Kings center Alex Turcotte, right, watches the puck fly away during a face off with Anaheim Ducks left wing Alex Killorn, left, during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Jan. 16, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Anaheim Ducks right wing Beckett Sennecke, left, passes the puck while under pressure from Los Angeles Kings defenseman Mikey Anderson during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Jan. 16, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Anaheim Ducks center Jansen Harkins, left, is shoved to the ice by Los Angeles Kings center Alex Turcotte during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Jan. 16, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
