Atletico de Kolkata claimed their second Indian Super League (ISL) football title in three years 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 37th minute and Henrique Sereno Fonseca equalised seven minutes later at the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium.

Jewel Raja turned out to be the jewel in ATK’s crown,r 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.

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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 capitalising on the opportunity.

Kerala forward Kervens Belfort outran India international Pritam Kotal and found the in-form C.K. 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.

ATK gradually emerged stronger with Hume combining with his team’s marquee goal scorer Helder Postiga. The Portuguese had a crack at goal from an acute angle but his effort went wide in the 14th minute.

ATK’s Jewel Raja was creating a positive impression in midfield over his senior state-mate Mehtab Hossain, snatching the ball from him on several occasions, to bring winger Sameehg Doutie into action, whose crisp half-volley was blocked three minutes later.

Kerala’s forward movement was channelised only through Belfort, the Haitian’s dragging his free-kick over the bar.

ATK’s offensive movement was more united with Lalrindika Ralte also getting into the act, helping Postiga reach favourable positions from where he could shoot at goal.

But for all their supposed supremacy, it was ATK who conceded first, from a set-piece movement that looked increasingly the only way they could score.

Mehtab’s corner was guided in powerfully by Mohammed Rafi, who rose admirably above Kotal, and diverted the ball past an outstretched goalkeeper Debjit Majumder.

Kerala’s sense of supremacy due to their obtained lead seemed accidental and ATK’s equaliser, just a minute before the breather by Henrique Sereno Fonseca, was deserved as they appeared more likely to score from open play.

ATK though had to resort to a corner to get level, Sereno outmuscling defender Sandesh Jhingan to direct his header past Stack.

The narrative, after the change of ends, remained pretty similar to the first session, Belfort being the focal point of Kerala’s attacks and ATK trying a more organised and holistic approach for goal.

The ball moved to and fro, but without any real purpose or conviction, and inability to carve open cautious defences led to both teams trying long range efforts.

The match settled into a mediocre rhythm. ATK coach Jose Molina tried to inject some energy into his team by replacing a tiring Postiga with Javi Lara.

The pace of the proceedings dropped noticeably, with players suffering cramps in the hot and humid weather conditions. As the match meandered towards the end of regulation time, neither team could create definite scoring opportunities.

The extra-time was more of a forced exercise on the players. Neither team were ready to go for the jugular, wary of getting caught on the break, preferring to keep ball possession to neutralise goal-bound threat.

Penalties seemed inevitable and the only reasonable solution to the iron-gripped deadlock. And when it happened, in due course, ATK emerged stronger at the fag end, just as they did in 2014 when they won courtesy an added time goal.

–IANS

Atletico de Kolkata (ATK) ended their group stage engagements with their eighth draw of the Indian Super League (ISL) football tournament in a 0-0 tie against FC Pune City at the Rabindra Sarovar stadium.

Pune coach Antonio Lopez Habas failed to win both the group stage matches against his former employers as both sides fired blanks in an otherwise inconsequential encounter.

The hosts, who have alreadt qualified for the semi-finals, have 20 points from 14 outings while Pune bowed out with 16.

ATK forward Juan Belencoso missed four clear-cut chances in both halves while the visitors failed to create many in a turgid affair.

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ATK will now have to wait to learn their semi-final opponents as table-toppers Mumbai City FC and Delhi Dynamos lock horns on Saturday.

As expected, the hosts made wholesale changes to the team that drew 1-1 against Kerala Blasters. The likes of Helder Postiga, Borja Fernandes and Iain Hume were given rest while Henrique Sereno and Debjit Mazumder were also made to cool their heels.

Pune keeper Arindam Bhattacharya was called into action as soon the fifth minute when he palmed away a stinging Javi Lara free-kick saved after a darting run by Abhinash Ruidas down the left flank was pockmarked by Rahul Bheke.

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Minutes later, Javi Lara had acres of space in front of him to run at the rival defence but Arindam again pulled off a good save to deny the in-form Spaniard.

ATK looked the likelier of the two sides to take the lead as Belencoso first side-netted a Ruidas cross to follow it up with an effort over the bar after some slick play saw Ruidas feed the profligate Spaniard inside the box.

Pune had their only chance at the half-hour mark when Anibal Rodriguez missed from the edge of the box. The first half ended goalless.

Belencoso missed another golden opportunity six minutes into the second period when the tall striker headed wide a Bidyananda Singh cross from handshaking distance.

Pune got two chances in quick succession but both substitute Dramane Traore (introduced in place of Momar Ndoye in the 72nd minute) and Sanju Pradhan missing.

ATK coach Jose Molina replaced Jewel Raja to bring in Stephen Pearson, who minutes after coming on, was part of a twin miss.

First the Scotsman’s shot from just inside the box was parried away by Arindam but only as far as a lurking Belencoso who somehow conspired to muff one of the easiest of chances.

Hume was brought on in the dying minutes of the match but the score remained unchanged.

IANS