Messi Hat-Trick Helps Argentina Crush Bolivia; Colombia, Brazil Cruise

by Shambhu Datta Mishra

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

Messi produced a performance for the ages for La Albiceleste, who had taken only one point from their previous two outings

Argentina now have 22 points from 10 outings and are close to participating at a 14th World Cup in a row

Argentina stayed three points clear of second-placed Colombia, who thrashed rock-bottom Chile 4-0, while Brazil beat Peru 4-0 at the Mane Garrincha Stadium

New Delhi, Oct 16: Lionel Messi's sensational show spurred Argentina to return to winning ways in FIFA World Cup 26 qualifying. The 37-year-old registered his 10th international hat-trick and two assists as they crushed Bolivia 6-0.

Messi produced a performance for the ages for La Albiceleste, who had taken only one point from their previous two outings. His canny, near-post finish caught goalkeeper Guillermo Viscarra off guard, while his two solo goals erupted El Monumental.

Argentina now have 22 points from 10 run-outs and are close to participating at a 14th World Cup in a row.

Argentina stayed three points clear of second-placed Colombia, who thrashed rock-bottom Chile 4-0. Luis Diaz and James Rodriguez were excellent for Los Cafeteros, while 20-year-old sensation Jhon Duran rose from the bench to hike his hype.

Colombia strode towards a global-finals return by dominating and downing La Roja. James Rodriguez and Luiz Diaz shimmered for Nestor Lorenzo's team, while 20-year-old sensation Duran made a big impression after coming on at half-time.

Davinson Sanchez got the ball rolling in Barranquilla, unwittingly deflecting home a Jhon Lucimi header. Diaz made it two after Rodriguez capitalised upon some dreadful defending to tee him up, before Duran’s emphatic finish and a late fourth from Luis Sinisterra completed a one-sided victory.

The result moved Colombia level on points with section leaders Argentina – at least temporarily – and left Chile bottom, with only five points from 10 games, and winless in seven qualifiers.

Elsewhere, Brazil beat Peru 4-0 at the Mane Garrincha Stadium. Raphinha (2), Andreas Pereira and Luiz Henrique scored the team's goals.

Igor Jesus looked the part, Raphinha, Rodrygo and Savinho dazzled behind him, and substitutes Andreas Pereira and Luiz Henrique got on the scoresheet.

Brazil, low on confidence and without Vinicius Junior, looked in trouble going into the October preliminaries. They’re now four points clear of seventh-placed Bolivia.

Brazil moved level on points with third-placed Uruguay. They will play again in November. First, against Venezuela, away from home. Then, they will face Uruguay, in Salvador.

(IANS)

Read More Odisha News

Coffee Exports From India Up 55 Pc As Global Demand Grows

by Hemanta Pande

New Delhi, Oct 16: As the global demand for Indian coffee surges, the country has clocked coffee exports worth Rs 7,771.88 crore in the first half of current fiscal (FY25), a massive 55 per cent increase from Rs 4,956 crore during the same period last fiscal.

This surge highlights the growing global demand for Indian coffee and marks a pivotal moment for the nation’s agricultural sector.

For the April-September period, the country exported 2.2 lakh tonnes of coffee, a rise from 1.91 lakh tonnes in the same period last year which is a 15 per cent volume increase, as per latest data by the Coffee Board of India.

There has been a significant rise in coffee price in the international markets, amid anticipated European export regulations. Coffee buyers are paying an average of Rs 352 per kg for the Indian coffee, up from Rs 259 per kg earlier.

Among the countries exporting the Indian coffee, Italy tops the chart with 20 per cent of total exports. Germany, Russia, the UAE and Belgium collectively import 45 per cent of Indian coffee.

The coffee production in India was nearly 3.6 lakh metric tonnes in the 2023-24 crop year.

During 2021-22, Indian coffee exports stood at $1.016 billion, growing by 38 per cent from the previous year 2020-21. In the year 2021-22, India was the fifth largest exporter of coffee in the world with a share of about 6 per cent of global coffee exports.

Karnataka accounts for about 70 per cent of India’s coffee output. Kerala contributes 20 per cent of India’s coffee production, positioning it as the second-largest coffee-producing state in the country. Tamil Nadu ranks third with a 5.7 per cent share. The coffee export market has been a key driver of the country’s coffee industry. (IANS)

Messi Hat-Trick Helps Argentina Crush Bolivia; Colombia, Brazil Cruise

Download Mobile App