ISL 3: ATK crowned ISL champion, Blasters fall short again

by Chittu Shetty December 18, 2016

The hosts failed to avenge their Inaugural season final defeat in front of capacity crowd as ATK win on Penalties to be crowned champion for the second time in three years.

ATK players celebrate their finals victory over KBFC

After 120 minutes of game ended in a stalemate with both sides scoring a goal apiece, Blasters failed to emulate their semi final penalty form as Ndoye and Hengbart failed to find the net in the shootout, losing 3-4 to their former final opponent Atletico de Kolkata.

Mohammed Rafi’s 37th minute goal was cancelled out by Henrique Sereno’s 44th minute strike as the both sides played out 120 minutes of game before entering in to the penalties in front of a packed crowd at the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium, Kochi.

The hosts made two big changes in the squad with Ishfaq Ahmed replacing the suspended Josu Currais at left-back, while surprisingly semi-final penalty shootout hero Sandip Nandy was replaced by Graham Stack. At the other end, ATK brought back their big players for the final game after resting them for the second leg semi final bringing back Hume and Postiga to pump up the strike force.

While Kerala began as the better side in front of a full house, Atletico de Kolkata soon started to get into the game, Helder Postiga looked to threaten the most at the start, coming close to scoring number of times.

The home side had their first big opening on a counter; Belfort went on a brilliant run down the left playing Rafi in whose side footed effort was heroically blocked by Tiri.

In the 14th minute, after one-two with Hume, Postiga skewed his shot wide. Soon ATK looked more comfortable on attack easily beating their opponent. At one stage, Didika’s cross fell to Doutie at the far post however the South African’s shot was parried by Stack.

Helder Postiga missed few more close chances; the Portuguese seemed to have left his shooting boots at home much to the frustration of Jose Molina.

Kerala were dealt a massive blow when their captain Aaron Hughes was forced off with injury in the 35th minute and replaced by Ndoye. But soon Blasters took the lead in the 38^th minute. Mehtab’s corner delivery was headed in to goal by Mohammed Rafi as the crowd went into raptures.

But soon ATK came back just minutes before half time break, in the 43rd minute, Doutie’s kick was headed in by central defender Henrique Sereno who managed to guide the ball into the net despite being marked by Sandesh Jhingan. Both teams went into the half on level terms.

Also Read: Blasters take on Atletico de Kolkata for the decider 

A dejected Kerala side after loosing on penalties

Second half began with the visitors once again looking in control with better possessions. In the 53^rd minute, Sereno went down bleeding after being caught by an elbow from Vineeth while challenging for a ball. He was soon revived by the medics and took to the field with a bandaged head, much to the relief of Molina.

The game soon withered into a dull affair as both sides failed to challenge either keeper. Surprisingly, Molina decided to replace Postiga for Javi Lara in the 68^th minute. Looking for that elusive goal Blasters went for a double change; Nazon and Rafi were replaced by German and Rafique.

In the 81st minute, Didika’s shot-cum-cross almost went in to the goal from the left missing the post by whiskers. In stoppage time, Didika was played into the box from where his cross was crucially intercepted by Hengbart before Hume could take his chances as the match ventured in to extra time.

In the 94th minute when Belfort after a quick one-two with German went inside the box but was crucially blocked by Kotal before he could exploit anything from it.

In the 110th minute, Kerala blasters defence almost switched off for a moment as Didika ball was eventually went to Hume. The forward’s shot however clattered off Hengbart before it was cleared in a scramble inside the box.

The thirty minutes of extra time provided no goals as both sides entered into the penalty shootouts. Antonio German, Kervens Belfort and Mohammed Rafique scored their penalties for the home side, as Elhadji Ndoye and Cedric Hengbart missed theirs. For the visitors Hume missed the first one but Javi Lara, Sameehg Doutie, Borja and Jewel Raja converted their chances as the Atletico lifted the trophy for the second time in three years.

Kerala Blasters FC 1 (Rafi 38’) – 1 Atletico De Kolkata (Sereno 44’)

Best Pitch award – NorthEast United FC

FairPlay Award – Chennaiyin FC

Fittest Player – Borja Fernandes (ATK)                                                  

Winning Pass the League – Sameehg Doutie (ATK)

Golden BOOT – Marcelinho (DDFC): 10 Goals

Golden Gloves – Amrinder Singh (Mumbai City FC): 5 clean sheets- 6 games (conceded 3 goals)

Emerging Player – Jerry Lalrinzuala (CFC)

Hero of the league: F Malouda (DDFC): 3 Goals 5 Assists