Kochi: Atletico de Kolkata were Sunday crowned Indian Super League champions for the second time in three years after they edged out Kerala Blasters 4-3 in a nerve-wracking penalty shootout after a below-par display for 120 minutes. Both sides were locked 1-1 after extra time that led to the shoot-out.
It was the first penalty shootout in three editions of the cash-rich league. Besides Jewel Raja, Sameehg Doutie, Borja Fernandez and Javier Lara found the target in the shootout while Iain Hume’s shot was blocked by Kerala goalkeeper Graham Stack.
For Kerala, who came into the match after winning six times on the trot before Sunday’s match, Antonio German, Kervens Belfort and Mohammed Rafique scored while Elhadji Ndoye and Cedric Hengbart failed to find the target.
Kerala took the lead In the 37th minute with Mohamed Rafi heading in a Mehtab Hossain. Their celebration did not last long though with ATK scoring the equaliser through Henrique Sereno seven minutes later and just a minute before half time whistle. Sereno beat Sandesh Jhingan to nod the ball home as he found himself at the receiving end of a Doutie corner.
PTI