Mumbai: Atletico de Kolkata emerged maiden champions of the Indian Super League, scraping past Kerala Blasters 1-0 in a pulsating final at the DY Patil Stadium here on Saturday. Substitute Mohammed Rafique scored the winner in injury time, smartly heading in Jakub Padony’s curling corner, giving goalkeeper David James no chance.
This was after ATK’s Cameroonian goalkeeper, Edel Bete, kept his side in the game with at least half a dozen brilliant saves. Kerala Blasters striker Michael Chopra squandered many opportunities while Canadian striker Iain Hume also couldn’t find the target on a couple of occasions.
Missing their main finisher Fikru Teferra, Atletico de Kolkata kept faith in Indian strikers Baljit Sahni and Mohammed Rafi. Atletico de Kolkata’s coach Antonio Habas didn’t risk marquee player Luis Garcia’s injury and benched him.
Sachin enthrals crowd at DY Patil stadium
The familiar ‘Sachin Sachin’ chants from the crowd were back in Mumbai for the first time since his retirement last year from international cricket at the Wankhede Stadium. But this time, the cricketing icon was there as owner of ISL football team Kerala Blasters to watch the final against Sourav Ganguly co-owned Atletico de Kolkata.
Sachin had other engagements during the Blasters’ league game against Mumbai City FC, but in the final, he had turned up well before time along with his family. It was no surprise that fans wearing yellow jerseys outnumbered the ATK fans with local boy Sachin was the draw factor.Before the final, there was a glittering 15-minute closing ceremony. Abhishek Bachchan and John Abraham were also present.
