Javier Hernandez’s brace helped Atletico de Kolkata (ATK) defeat Chennaiyin FC in the final and create Indian Super League (ISL) history, at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here on Saturday.
A handful of lucky people – mainly friends and family of the team owners who were given special access – were witness to the interesting action which was held behind closed doors because of the Coronavirus scare.
In guiding ATK to its record third title, Antonio Lopez Habas became the most successful coach of the ISL as the Spaniard picked his second crown while returning to the side after a break of three seasons. The ATK centre-half Hernandez, who had never scored before the final, stepped up as the finisher scoring the first and the third goals while Spainard Edu Garcia scored one in between. Nerijus Valskis pulled one back for Chennaiyin FC late in the second half.
The final could have easily gone the other way had Chennaiyin FC managed to avail two opportunities in the first four minutes.
Chennaiyin FC pressed the attack mode right from the start and had Andre Schembri running up the right to cut the ball back to winger Rafael Crivellaro in the box.
The latter’s attempt took a deflection off an ATK defender and was headed into the goal but Pritam Kotal made a timely goalmouth clearance to the save ATK. Keeping up the pressure, Chennaiyin made another inroad in the fourth minute but this time it was the crosspiece that blocked Valskis’ attempt.
ATK released the pressure by the getting the goal in the 10th minute. It was the result of a fantastic combination in the attack which saw Roy Krishna moving up on the left to collect a long floater from the centre.
The Fijian forward essayed a nice cross upfront to his colleague David Williams, who played a dummy letting Hernandez move from the centre and finish with a spectacular scissors kick. ATK could have doubled the lead in the 23rd minute when Krishna set up another cross which was partially cleared by Vishal Kaith.
