Atletico de Kolkata won Indian Super League 2016

Atletico de Kolkata claimed their second Indian Super League title in three years after bettering Kerala Blasters 4-3 (1-1) on penalty shootout in a lack-lustre final. The match was tied in 1-1 at the break and after 90 minutes of regulation time. Mohammed Rafi put the hosts ahead in the 37^th minute and Henrique Sereno Fonseca equalized seven minutes later at the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium.

Jewel Raja turned out to be the jewel in ATK's crown, calmly dispatching the last penalty, after Sameehg Doutie, Borja Fernandez and Javi Lara all converted their spot kicks. Only Iain Hume's shot was blocked by Kerala custodian Graham Stack. The home team took first strike in the shootout. Antonio German, Kervens Belfort and Mohammed Rafique scored while Elhadji Ndoye blasted over from 18 yards and Cedric Hengbart's shot was acrobatically saved by ATK goalkeeper Debjit Majumder.

ATK also defeated Kerala in the final of the inaugural edition of the tournament in 2014. The match received an early dose of pace with chances created at both ends, but poor technique coupled with signs of nervousness, prevented the two team's premier forwards from capitalizing on the opportunity. Kerala forward Kervens Belfort outran India international Pritam Kotal and found the in-form CK Vineeth free on the left, who undid the good work with poor technique. The ball was quickly hurled towards ATK's star striker Iain Hume, who peeled away from his marker but was equally wayward in controlling the ball.

Eight teams, 60 matches, more than two months of football has finally come down to two teams playing one last match this year to go for the title itself. Atletico de Kolkata and Kerala Blasters have both gone wayward on multiple occasions this season. But they have pushed forward with sheer determination and now have the title within touching distance.

Real Madrid won FIFA Club World Cup

Cristiano Ronaldo smashed a hat-trick as Real Madrid survived a colossal scare to beat Japan’s Kashima Antlers 4-2 and lift the Club World Cup. A Gaku Shibasaki double briefly threatened one of football’s greatest shocks after Karim Benzema had given Real Madrid an early lead in Yokohama. But Ronaldo equalized from the penalty spot before pouncing twice in extra time to give the Spanish giants their second world title in three years and fifth in total.

The victory extended Real Madrid club record unbeaten run to 37 matches in all competitions, while French coach Zinedine Zidane surpassed Fabio Capello’s record for their best start to a season. But the European champions, yet to be defeated in 26 games this campaign, were forced to dig deep by an Antlers side who finished a distant third over the J-League season, before winning the championship final.

Benzema’s toe-poked opener was cancelled out on the stroke of halftime by Shibasaki, who took advantage of some calamitous defending from Raphael Varane to lash in a sharp volley. The Japan midfielder then sparked wild celebrations among a crowd of 68,000 seven minutes after the break when he smashed home a left-foot shot from long distance. Kashima’s lead was short-lived, however, as Ronaldo leveled from the spot after Lucas Vazquez was bundled over by Shuto Yamamoto.

Ronaldo, who scooped his fourth Ballon d’Or last week, put Real Madrid back in front with a clinical low finish eight minutes into extra time after a deft pass from Benzema. And the Portuguese superstar completed his hat-trick -- the first in a Club World Cup final -- six minutes later with another poacher’s strike to break Japanese hearts.

India won Junior Hockey World Cup

For the second time this year, Harjeet Singh junior India Men’s hockey team beat Belgium on the way to lifting a trophy. In its first such final in 15 years, India overwhelmed Belgium 2-1 to lift the 2016 Hockey Junior World Cup at Lucknow and became the second team after Gagan Ajit Singh colts in 2001, to get their hands on the most coveted title.

On the biggest day for Indian junior men's hockey since the class of 2001 claimed the Junior World Cup, Harjeet's dominating Indian team was put ahead within minutes when Gurjant Singh stunningly knocked one past Belgium goalkeeper Loic van Doren to give the colts a much-needed boost and an early lead. Up 2-0 by half-time following a Simranjeet Singh field goal, India never let off the pressure.

This win maintained India's 100% record in the tournament and underlined their status as rightful winners. Belgium, having stunned six-time champions and defending champions Germany 4-3 in a shoot-out in the semi-finals, were overawed in the initial passages of their first Junior World Cup Final. The start to this summit clash was electric and one-sided as India managed two shots and seven circle penetrations inside ten minutes. India were the faster side, and that was, ultimately, the difference.

Two saves from Dahiya were received with a tumultuous din, and each time India's offensive pack sped down the line it was with the unanimous expectation of another goal. A PC to Belgium with seconds remaining had no bearing on the result, and when the full-time whistle was blown, India's fans were truly given something unforgettable to cheer about - with Harjeet's unbeatable heroes ending a 15-year jinx to claim the Junior Hockey World Cup.

2016 Bangladesh Premier League

Dhaka Dynamites clinched the Bangladesh Premier League title in style, as they dismantled Rajshahi Kings to win by 56 runs in front of a full house in Mirpur. This is the third triumph for a Dhaka franchise in four BPLs, with the Gladiators having won in the 2012 and 2013 editions.

It was also sweet revenge for Dhaka who were beaten by Rajshahi in both their league games earlier in the tournament. Rajshahi, one of two new franchises this season, were left dejected after having made a late dash into the final by beating Chittagong Vikings and Khulna Titans in the playoffs.

While they would be proud of their overall campaign, their top order left the middle and lower order too much to do in the final, as they collapsed from 62-1 to 98-8, losing seven wickets for 36 runs as they tried to chase down 160. They were eventually bowled out for 103 in 17.4 overs. Rajshahi's chase was hence dependent on Samit Patel, James Franklin and Darren Sammy, but the big-hitting trio fell in three consecutive overs when it mattered the most.

Kumar Sangakkara won the Man of the Match Award and Mahmudullah won the Man of the Series Award.