SEASON 1
Riding their luck: Atletico de Kolkata
Atletico de Kolkata (ATK) were coronated the champions of the Indian Super League (ISL) first edition. The other teams in the ISL will have to sweat it out to take that title away from the defending champions in the second edition of the star-studded league.
Smooth beginning
The journey to the final of the ISL 2014 began smoothly for Atletico de Kolkata when they took on Mumbai City FC at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata. Fikru Teferra, Borja Fernandez and skipper Luis Garcia found the back of the net way too easily, thereby beginning their campaign with a resounding 3-0 victory over their opponents. The Sourav Ganguly co-owned franchise remained undefeated for the first seven matches and also could not be displaced by the other teams from the top of the points table.
First defeat to Pune
FC Pune City came down to Kolkata and handed the home side their first defeat. They suffered a 1-3 loss at their own backyard and post that loss, there was a sudden downfall. Atletico de Kolkata head coach Antonio Habas became furious with his side's performance. They were drawing or losing games one after the other. A place in the semi-final looked unsure.
Clearing the Gaurs hurdle
Their match against FC Goa was very crucial. They needed a draw or a win to make it to the semis. One might feel they were lucky enough to have drawn that game against FC Goa and made it to the knockout stages of the ISL 2014. They faced FC Goa yet another time in the all-important semi-finals. The deadlock could not be broken after 180 minutes of the two legs. At the end of the penalty shootout, team co-owner Ganguly had all the right reasons to rejoice as his side won the contest 4-2 in the shootout and crawled into the big final.
Blasting Kerala
They had to face the upbeat Kerala Blasters in the final of the ISL 2014. Everyone knew that it would not have been an easy game for either of the sides. Skipper Garcia almost carried the baton of Atletico de Kolkata till the final of the league and all the fans chanted his names at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, where the final was being held.Blasters took control of the game right from the start and the number of counter attacks looked threatening. Blasters's striker Michael Chopra missed a couple of sitters but ATK goalkeeper Edel Bete made a couple of stunning saves as well.
Then came the moment in the stoppage time. A corner from Borja Fernandez and a wonderfully guided header in the bottom left corner of the net from Mohammed Rafique sealed it for Atletico de Kolkata. That left the Sachin Tendulkar co-owned side in despair and agony as Atletico de Kolkata lifted the trophy in style. One might believe that they were lucky enough to have survived the final scare but all that matters at the end of the day is the result.
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SEASON 2
A rise from the bottom: Fairy-tale finish for Chennaiyin FC
In a match worthy of the final, Chennaiyin FC took the lead, fell behind and then staged a stunning comeback in the dying stages to lift the ISL trophy at the Fatorda last night. In more ways than one the match was a microcosm of Chennaiyin’s entire season ” a slow hesitant start, bursts of brilliance, hopeless loss of form and then an improbable, bullish run to blow everyone off their feet. Here a snapshot of Chennaiyin FC performance in ISL-2 which culminated in a thrilling 3-2 win against hosts FC Goa.
The slow start
Before the season began, some astute transfers meant Chennaiyin FC were among the most balanced squads and was rightly given the favourites tag.
Two things probably went against them. Burden of expectations and too many new faces in the playing XI. The team started the new season on a wrong note with two defeats. The move of keeping Elano in the centre seemed to be ineffectual. Elano, it seemed, was too eager to do all on his own. The team needed new inspiration.
Bursts of brilliance with growing attacking solidity
Chennaiyin then came up with a change in formation with an unfamiliar two banks of four with Elano and Mendoza up front. This led to a run of five games which gave Chennaiyin 3 wins, a defeat and a draw. Barring the game against NorthEast United FC (where they reverted to earlier formation), the attack seemed to click together with striker John Stiven Mendoza scoring a brilliant hat-trick against FC Goa. With six goals from five games, Mendoza was well on his way for the Golden Boot. This run also established Raphael Augusto as the central midfield lynchpin for Chennaiyin. He controlled the midfield and provided an extra thrust and creativity which was a refreshing change and a dependable alternative for Elano.
Down and almost out
Chennaiyin’s old nemesis ” their defense ” came unstuck to pull them to the bottom. They suffered three defeats and conceded six goals. Not just the number but the timing and manner in which they conceded that was really demoralising. The attack also seemed out of steam returning a meagre two goals. Profligacy and Murphy’s law caught up with them.
The bullish run
The next seven games saw Chenniyin win six and suffer an inconsequential loss against Atletico de Kolkata in the second leg of the semifinals. The highlight in the first of those four games has been how the team functioned as a unit. With Atletico de Kolkata looming, Chennaiyin were dealt a serious blow in the form of suspensions for captain Elano Blumer and defender Mehrajuddin Wadoo.
The team brushed off their absence nonchalantly and pretty much killed the tie in the first-leg with an eventually unassailable 3-0 lead. When Atletico de Kolkata threw everything at them in the second leg, they withstood the pressure and even nicked an away goal to seal the berth in the final. Apoula Edel Bete ” the bedrock on whom the entire comeback was built ” coming to the fore again.
The December 20 grand finale against FC Goa showcased this never ending resilience in the face of adversity that Chennaiyin displayed through this tournament.
