KOCHI: Prior to the final, Football Sports Development Limited chairperson Nita Ambani was seen performing a ‘puja’. If that was towards divine providence stretching the finale to its maximum, she had her wish at the jam-packed Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Sunday.
But the drama of the penalties didn’t heed the prayers of the Kerala Blasters legions, as Atletico de Kolkata pulled the rug from under the hosts’ feet to walk away with their second title in three seasons. On his return to his former ‘home’, Iain Hume missed his kick for Kolkata in the tie-breaker, but there was no denying him his due this time. For also the second time in three seasons, against the same opponents, Kerala ended up contemplating what might have been. And in the VIP stand, Atletico co-owner Sourav Ganguly was the one waving the flag after being almost lost in the chants for his Blasters counterpart Sachin Tendulkar.
It had to show up sometime, the Blasters’ lack of a quality central midfielder. That it did in the final was their worst nightmare coming true. And for once, Steve Coppell’s magic wand didn’t deliver. The final also proved to be the one game where his selection failed. Once the name of Ishfaq Ahmed popped on the Blasters team sheet at left-back, it was a foregone conclusion who Atletico would target most. And South African Sameehg Doutie duly wrought havoc along the right wing in the first half, with Ahmed totally lost. Twice Portuguese striker Helder Postiga was on the end of pull-backs from Doutie but misfired.
Blasters never got going, after having tided over several challenges to run up six consecutive home wins. For a team that managed to reach this far on the back of an organised defence and plucky individual displays up front, it appeared they had got out of bed on the wrong side. To say that they missed the suspended Josu Prieto would be an understatement. More than the left-back, Blasters missed ‘Josu’ the fan-favourite who had instigated so many attacks from the deep.
Atletico skipper Borja Fernandez and Jewel Raja Sheikh quickly took control of central midfield, as Postiga and Hume worked delightful one touch passes on the edge of the box. Kerala midfield duo Azrack Mahamat and Mehtab Hussain were outplayed as the hosts were left to rely on individuals, with Haitian pair Kervens Belfort and Duckens Nazon leading the lines.
A set piece looked the most likely source of a goal for the hosts, and Mohammad Rafi brought the crowd to life in the 37th minute with a sharp header into the bottom right corner. The euphoria lasted seven minutes as Henrique Sereno replied in kind for Atletico.
krishnakumarkh@newindianexpress.com