It was redemption at Fatorda for Laxmikanth Kattimani, as he saved three penalties in the shootout and helped Hyderabad FC lift their maiden Indian Super League title in Goa on an entertaining Sunday evening against Kerala Blasters. The match finished 1-1 after regulation time and another half an hour of extra time.
Kattimani, who had a horrid final in 2015 for FC Goa on the same ground, and conceded a soft goal to Kerala’s Rahul KP earlier in the evening, rose to the occasion in the tie-breaker, saving three shots, including one that was disallowed, as Hyderabad won in style. For Kerala, it was a third loss in the final of the ISL, while for Hyderabad, this is only their third season in the tournament.
Rahul KP (68th) broke the deadlock as Kattimani failed to keep out a long-ranger before Sahil Tavora (88th) hammered home a stunning volley from the right and into the left corner past a diving Prabhsukhan Gill to equalise and take the game to extra time, which saw no goals in 30 minutes, before the penalties took over.
Marko Leskovic, Nishu Kumar and Jeakson Singh saw their efforts saved brilliantly by Kattimani, the 32-year-old veteran goalkeeper even saving twice from Nishu after his first was ruled out due to him stepping out of his line. For Hyderabad, skipper Joao Victor, Khassa Camara and Halicharan Narzary found the back of the net as Javier Siverio shot over the bar. Ayush Adhikari scored Kerala's only goal from the spot.
Hyderabad FC were crowned champions for the first time, in their third year, vindicating Manolo Márquez's vision of a well-rounded team with the perfect blend of youth and experience.
It was heartbreak for Kerala as they reached the final for the third time, only to finish second-best when it mattered the most. The thousands of Kerala fans, many of whom travelled all the way from home by road, were left high and dry as their team fell at the last hurdle after displaying a spirited performance.
Kerala, missing Sahal Abdul Samad to injury, started on the brighter side from the first minute and it remained so throughout the first half barring a Siverio effort at the cusp of halftime.
Jorge Diaz could have helped Kerala take an early lead but the Argentine forward could not connect well to a Harmanjot Khabra floater inside the area that caught Asish Rai napping.
Diaz looked in fine form as he ran Hyderabad defence ragged and made those off-the-ball runs that kept the opposition defence on tenterhooks. At the half-hour mark, Luna tried his trademark dipping effort but the ball was collected with ease by Laxmikanth Kattimani in Hyderabad's goal.
The game got off to a lively start with Kerala dominating proceedings but the tempo tapered off a bit after the initial exchanges with both teams not really showing teeth upfront. Kerala were successful in keeping Ogbeche quiet but the likes of Luna and Vazquez too struggled to really burst to life.
Hyderabad were dealt a blow when Joel Chianese had to be replaced by Javier Siverio as the former picked up an injury in the 39th minute, and almost immediately Vazquez found the woodwork after Luna put in a delightful ball inside the box for Khabra to chest it down and Vazquez charging in to have a crack at goal first time. The missile of a strike cannoned off the crossbar as Hyderabad heaved a sigh of relief.
Just before half-time, Siverio forced Prabhsukhan Gill to make a brilliant save after the Spaniard got on the end of a Yasir Mohammad free-kick only for his header to be turned away at the near post.
Hyderabad FC came out all guns blazing in the second period, Joao Victor forcing Gil into a diving save from distance and Ogbeche firing over the bar after bursting through on goal with a deft first touch. Against the run of play, Kerala took the lead.
Vazquez found Rahul in the final third, the latter sprinting towards goal with Hyderabad defenders guilty of not closing him down. Rahul then tried his luck from distance and Kattimani should have done better, getting a feeble hand to the ball but failing to keep it out of goal.
Gill then kept his side in the driver's seat with a brilliant save from an Ogbeche free-kick but Hyderabad's constant forays bore fruit two minutes from full time, Tavora scoring a screamer after another substitute Halicharan Narzary's delectable ball inside the box was cleared by the Kerala defence.
In extra-time, Ogbeche's overhead kick went just wide in the first half while the Nigerian's effort was cleared off the line in the second essay by Marko Leskovic. Kerala coach Ivan Vukomanovic replaced Vazquez with Vincy Barretto, raising a few eyebrows but it looked it the Spaniard had picked up a knock.
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