Hyderabad FC defeated Kerala Blasters by 3-1 in penalty shootout to clinch their maiden Indian Super League (ISL) title. The match ended in 1-1 draw at the Fatorda stadium in Goa on March 20 (Sunday). In a game dominated by the Blasters, a late equaliser by Sahil Tavora sent the game into extra time where none could break the deadlock.
Both teams failed to score in the first half, However, Blasters had an edge over Hyderabad. With 61% possession and 281 passes, Kerala were way ahead of Hyderabad’s 39% possession and 131 passes. Blasters were dominating the half with a total of seven shots compared to Hyderabad’s two shots. KBFC’s Alvaro Vazquez came the closest to score when his shot across the goal smashed the crossbar and returned to play in the 38th minute.
Kerala started the second half in the most attacking fashion. The Hyderabad’s defense could only hold them off till the 68th minute as Rahul KP’s strike from outside the box gave Kerala the lead. From there on Hyderabad were only chasing a much resurgent Kerala attack that got more and more relentless as the second half reached its final few minutes. A late surge from Sahil Tavora gave Hyderabad the equaliser, taking the game into extra time.
Hyderabad carried the momentum into the first half of the extra time. However, both teams ended 1-1 despite Hyderabad attacking in numbers after Tavora’s late equaliser. Last fifteen minutes were also no different as both teams didn’t give anything away with the score line read 1-1 on the final whistle.
This was Hyderabad FC’s first final, while Kerala Blasters played their third. The Blasters reached the finals in the 2014 and 2016 edition of the ISL. They lost both the finals to Atletico de Kolkata.
Both Hyderabad and Kerala have had a season to remember, reaching the summit clash of the 2021-22 ISL season on the back of some scintillating performances. Hyderabad finished second on the table with 38 points whereas Kerala occupied the fourth spot with 34 points in their bag.
Previous winners
2014: Atletico de Kolkata beat Kerala Blasters by 1-0
2015: Chennaiyin FC beat Goa FC by 3-2
2016: Atletico de Kolkata beat Kerala Blasters by 4-3 in penalties
2017-18: Chennaiyin FC beat Bengaluru FC by 3-2
2018-19: Bengaluru FC beat Goa FC by 1-0
2019-20: ATK Mohun Bagan beat Chennaiyin by 3-1
2020-21: Mumbai City beat ATK Mohung Bagan by 2-1
