Indian Super League: Atletico Kolkata needed a penalty shoot-out to overcome FC Goa
Wednesday 17 December 2014 20:13, UK
Atletico Kolkata needed a 4-2 penalty shoot-out victory to overcome FC Goa and set up a clash with Kerala Blasters in the final of the inaugural Indian Super League.
Wednesday’s semi-final, second leg at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Fatorda mirrored the first at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium, as the tie finished 0-0 after 210 minutes of football.
Andre Santos and Mohammed Rafi both missed the spot for Goa but Kolkata’s penalties were flawless as they sealed a place in Saturday’s final at D.Y. Patil Stadium in Mumbai
“It feels superb being in the final at the first time of asking. It feels terrific,” Atletico Kolkata co-owner and former Indian Test captain Sourav Ganguly told Sky Sports after the game.
“It’s a very different feeling going through on penalties. You feel powerless during them. There is nothing you can do except for pray.”
Kolkata’s Spanish defender Josemi, who won the Champions League with Liverpool in 2005, added: “I’m very happy for the team and for all the guys because we’ve spent everyday working together since the beginning.
“It was a difficult game but for us the most important thing was to win. Now we must enjoy the moment but we must also recover for the final which I hope we will win.”
Meanwhile, a dramatic extra-time goal from former Celtic and Derby midfielder Stephen Pearson saw Kerala clinch a thrilling 4-3 aggregate win over Chennaiyin in the other semi-final tie.
Scot Jamie McAllister’s first-half dismissal was the catalyst for a stunning Chennaiyin comeback as they clawed back a three-goal first leg deficit to send the match into extra-time.
But Pearson, who famously sealed Derby’s promotion to the Premier League with the winner against West Brom in the 2007 Championship play-off final, fired Blasters to the final three minutes from the end of the extended period.
