Rahul KP broke the deadlock mid-way through the second-half before Sahil Tavora scored a late equaliser to take the game to extra time.
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Hyderabad FC beat Kerala Blasters FC 3-1 on penalties to lift the 2021-22 Indian Super League title. HFC goalkeeper Laxmikant Kattimani became zero to hero as the 32-year-old’s mistake led to KBFC’s opening goal but he made amends for his error by making three quality saves in the shoot-out to help his side lift their maiden trophy. Rahul KP broke the deadlock mid-way through the second-half before Sahil Tavora scored a late equaliser to take the game to extra time. Meanwhile as the match went to penalties it wasn’t third-time lucky for the Blasters. The team from Kochi had lost two previous finals in 2014 and 2016, and the wait for the trophy goes on for the passionate football fans in Kerala.
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A special night for @hyderabadfc as they top off their brilliant campaign by securing the #HeroISL trophy, after defeating Kerala Blasters FC in a penalty shootout! ?#HFCKBFC #HeroISLFinal #FinalForTheFans #LetsFootball #HyderabadFC pic.twitter.com/RqhKTnMrp9
— Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) March 20, 2022
It was a dominant performance from KBFC in the first half as they had the majority of ball possession, created seven chances and hit the post once. Ivan Vukomanovic’s side was playing some good passing game, the front three of Alvaro Vazquez, Adrian Luna and Jorge Diaz were interchanging positions and making it hard for the HFC defenders. Meanwhile KBFC defender Sandeep Singh was lucky not to receive a red card for a reckless tackle from behind on Ashish Rai inside the opening five minutes.
The match started with a slow tempo and the first shot on goal was registered by HFC when Souvik’s long-range effort went straight to Gill. KBFC’s first attempt on goal came on the half-hour-mark courtesy of a dipping right-foot shot from Luna which lacked the venom to test Kattimani.
Left-back Sandeep, who is a right-footed player, was cutting inside and playing diagonal balls to Harmanjot Khabra on the right-flank, seems like Vukomanovic has seen an achilles heel at that position. Rahul was making those inside runs and creating space for right-back Khabra. Most of KBFC’s attacks in the opening half were coming down the right flank.
The first real chance of the match came in the 38th minute, when Khabra chested the ball down and laid it to Vazquez, whose powerful right-foot effort from inside the box rattled the crossbar.
HFC was soaking all the pressure and towards the end of the opening half, against the run of play, they got close to getting the opening goal. Mohammad Yasir’s in-swinging free-kick from the right flank found Javier Siverio’s header but Gill stood his ground to deny the Spaniard.
After the break, HFC came out with a bit more intent as Joao Victor’s shot from outside the box forced a decent save from Gill before Ogbeche blasted over the bar from Rai’s assist.
Rahul broke the deadlock in the 69th minute. The 22-year-old Kerala-boy’s shot from outside the box went past Kattimani and into the bottom corner. Though Kattimani got a touch to it, the shot had enough power to find the back of the net. Kattimani should have done better.
Few moments later at the other end, Gill made a stunning save to deny Ogbeche’s low free-kick from 20 yards out. It was getting heated as the game progressed, tackles were flying in and HFC was getting frustrated.
Vazquez cut inside from the left-flank and his right-foot shot was saved by Katimani at the near post. And then, Nishu Kumar was tripped just outside the box and the referee awarded a free-kick to KBFC. Katimani made the save from Luna’ effort.
With just two minutes remaining HFC scored an equaliser through a stunning strike from substitute Tavora. It was one of the goals of the season from the Indian striker as he unleashed a superb strike from outside the box which went past a flat-footed Gill into the top corner.
The game went to extra-time and KBFC continued to push forward for the winner. Leskovic’s header from Luna’s cross hit the woodwork. Siverio did well to get past Hormipam down the left flank before delivering the cut-back for Ogbeche just inside the box, but the 37-year-old’s shot was cleared off the line by Leskovic. Both sets of players gave everything they had and worked their socks off but couldn’t find the winner and the game went to a penalty shoot-out.
Leskovic took the first spot-kick and Kattimani made a brilliant diving save to his right to deny the defender. Victor put HFC ahead with a nicely taken penalty kick before Kattimani made another identical save to keeper out Nishu Kumar’s effort from the spot.
Ayush Adhikari and Khassa Kamara scored their respective penalties before Kattimani rightly dived to his left to deny Jeakson Singh and allowed Holicharan Narzary to take the glory kick. The substitute kept his composure to convert the spot-kick and win the title for his side.
