Grand Finals of Hero Indian Super League

Atletico de Kolkata Vs. Kerala Blasters

Good day folks! We are at the end of the inaugural season of the Hero Indian Super League. The high drama to be ended with Atletico de Kolkata and Kerala Blasters clashing in the grand final match to be held in Mumbai tomorrow. It's premature to predict results of the match since the Hero Indian Super League has seen unexpected twists and turns. The expected top contenders who created huge buzz with bringing in top strikers and midfielders failed secure the top spot. Really loved to watch such an action sports. In the end, they all proved that a team is not less than others in this tournament.

From the league matches held between the two team in which both the team drew the first match between them and Kerala Blasters ended up winning against Atletico de Kolkata . But that was with an abysmal margin of one goal. We are not interested in the debated hand-ball for now.

For Luis Garcia's men, the task ahead is tough. Consistency in the performance is the need of the hour. The Semi-final between FC Goa and Atletico de Kolkata ended inconclusively with a goalless draw till 120th minute of the match. The Strong eleven men of Atletico de Kolkata could be kept away from goal if the Kerala Blaster maintain a good d-line which has high probability to break once concerted team effort is exerted by Atletico de Kolkata. Kerala Blasters were startled with conceding three goals against Chennaiyin FC. Had the Chennaiyin FC turned few chances into goals, it would have crashed out Kerala Blasters of the tournament. So, the team Kolkata might try hard to keep good tactics on field.

Atletico de Kolkata is well known for its rough defense play. Tight marking and covering spaces would make Kerala Blasters rethink their attack play. Atletico de Kolkata has displayed an unrelenting play when it comes to defense. No easy goals against Kolkata pals! But Kerala Blasters are turning good at converting few mistakes into an unforgiving goals as they did in Semi-finals against Chennaiyin FC. The question is how consistent will team Kolkata be in its defense against Kerala Blasters! The match against FC Goa, Atletico de Kolkatta suffered some deficiency in defense. For an instance, a cut-in by the winger, Romeo Fernandas, led to a shot against Kolkata but the shot saw the wrong side of the net. Complacency has no place in football. Nevertheless, no team is immune from any attack unless well coordinated defense is in play. Conversely, some believe attack is the best form of defense.

Final match of the Hero Indian Super League is the only answers for the question that go unanswered. Dynamism in this tournament has made every future match unpredictable. One thing will happen for sure irrespective of any predictions, both the team will spice up the game tomorrow night. Lets football!

Second-leg Semi-Finals of Hero Indian Super League: FCG V ATK

FC Goa Vs. Atletico de Kolkata

The second-leg of semi-finals in Hero Indian Super League between FC Goa and Atletico de Kolkata held in the home-town of FC Goa. The first-leg of semi-finals between them concluded with a goalless draw. The expectations were high on FC Goa as they did some fireworks in the first-leg semi-finals with good enough shots on target. Atletico de Kolkata rode on its team power and experience.

Both the teams were fierce contenders for the final berth to be held on Saturday night. FC Goa didn't fail to rock the night . They created numerous opportunities but the ball denied FC Goa with a goal. Andre Santos who not only made numerous shot fly over the goal post but even the penalty kick followed the same pattern. Santos free-kick disappointed the home crowd. The set-piece at which FC Goa were strong at crumbled once Santos over shot them. Romeo found the wrong side of the net at a scoring opportunity. Mandar cut-in on occasion added pressure to the Kolkata defenders. But it was finally Atletico de Kolkata were into the finals against Kerala Blasters in the inaugural season of the Hero Indian Super League. FC Goa lost composure of the game. Might be due to the pressure either from home crowd or to a 'must score' situation.  The other side is Kolkata kept pressure upon the forwards of FC Goa. Anyhow, they yielded to Kolkata.

Atletico de Kolkata did great. It appeared as if they have been training the team for the penalty kicks. The power and the balance exhibited by the players were authentic.  But lucky team, saw few penalty kicks played by FC Goa wide of the goal post. 

One beautiful thing about the penalty kick held yesterday is that no goals were saved by the goalkeepers of either teams. To be precise, FC Goa missed shots during penalty kicks which let Kolkata into the finals in this Hero Indian Super League. And for the finals Best of luck Kolkata. FC Goa live for another day.

Post Second-Leg Semi-Finals of Hero Indian Super League, CFC Vs. KB

Chennaiyin FC Vs. Kerala Blasters

The pre-match analysis turned to be true that Marco Materazzi boys rocked yesterday night. Marina Arena roared like thunders when the CFC scored 3 amazing goals that shook Kerala Blasters. Despite the unfortunate goal from Kerala Blasters' Pearson in 117th minute, the game was amazing.  One goal difference kept CFC out of finals in Hero Indian Super League but won millions of heart. No other team might rock in Hero Indian Super League as did by the Chennaiyin FC.

Materazzi revamped the entire attack. Mendy attained new dimension in the team, took some attack over his shoulders. The cross by Mendy was exemplary. Unfortunate CFC, missed few scoring chances. But it all happen in a football. After all, life is all about unexpected surprises and disappointments.

This first season might be considered as good start for Chennaiyin FC. Even though they lost, they won, not the game but millions of hearts. The high spirit even during the last minutes of the game made the entire fans proud. Fans expect the same momentum in the next season of the Hero Indian Super League.

And for the defense, Silvestre interrupted crosses from Kerala Blasters. The tight marking of forwards kept the Kerala Blasters at bay. Hats-off to the d-line. For a team which was less spoken about, they rocked.

The Latest development in Chennaiyin FC is in process of finalizing deal with Inter Milan, erstwhile Marco Materazzi team, to train it youth team with a huge investment of Rs. 2 Crores. A step ahead to breed young talent with great affinity towards the club. Sooner or later, we will watch some new young talent rock the Marina Arena.

Lets wait for the deal to materialize. Lets football...

Second-Leg Semi Finals - Hero Indian Super League

FC Goa Vs. Atletico de Kolkatta

The first-leg semi-final match between FC Goa(FCG) and Atletico de Kolkata(ATK) ended in a goalless draw. But it will be premature to conclude anything at this point. While FCG has a sluggish start in the season. Later, the Zico boys rebound from nowhere to get semi-final berth in the Hero Indian Super League. For ATK, football is a religion. It is a usual for the Kolkata football fans to conduct special ceremonies for their favorite team win. Nevertheless, both team were from the places where Indian football was groomed.

Whereas the ATK which had a huge buzz from the start of the league matches, no surprise, they played well. The Luis Garcia and Fikru combo did some magic on field. Fikru was a speeding bullet to dodge past the last defender to score goals. Luis Garcia was kingpin of the team attack. A target man who could lead the team to the goal post in no time. And for the defense, ATK is well known for the rough-up play against other teams. Constant marking and pressure has spoiled may attack against the ATK. Subhasish Roy Chowdhury, the Stronghold Guardian of the ATK, stand as a tall wall against any shot at target. But in the First leg Fikru was rested. The gaffer is planning on him! The team is good at making rival defender run from pillar to post. The One touch passing and switching sides of the play create numerous opportunities.

The Strength of the team is with long balls as long as  Fikru is good at catching up with them. The solid defense line and close player support at crucial time pressurizes the opposition.

While, at present, none can under estimate the FC Goa. Zico proved him to be the man of words. He assured the team will rebound to top after the consecutive defeats at start of the Hero Indian Super League. Now the team is one of the strongest contender of the title in first Hero Indian Super League. The indigenous talent Romeo emerged as real hero to win hearts among the crowd who scored the 100th goal of the Hero Indian Super League.  Romeo Fernandas is state-of-the-art indigenous footballer in the Hero Indian Super League.  His incisive runs, talent to create huge space for the attack made him an outstanding player of the tournament. To add further, the André Santos deadly strikes add teeth to the FCG. Miroslav Slepička, made a good contribution towards the team victory in the last phase of league matches. Especially, the conversion of loose ball into goal which was splendid. Slepička keeps up the form them he will be unbeatable goal-machine of the Hero Indian Super League.

The strength of FCG is set-pieces. Defenders are good at converting the chances to goal. Fast and pacey attacks. But in the First-leg of the semi-finals in Hero Indian Super League, FCG would have scored four goal but for the lack of composure from the strikers.

The odds favor FCG looking at the recent attack and defense they showed up in the game. But that doesn't conclude. ATK might cast its spell in any match minutes.

Let's wait for another hot football feast. Lets football.

Second-leg Semi-Final - Hero Indian Super League, CFC VS KB

Chennaiyin FC vs Kerala Blasters

The first leg of the Hero Indian Super League semi-finals between Chennaiyin FC Vs. Kerala Blasters in which Kerala Blasters took a clean 3-0 lead against Chennaiyin FC. Today, the second leg to held in Chennaiyin FC Home town. Speculations are that Chennaiyin FC will never lose before its Home crowd. Hope, it will be forever. As for as the first leg of the Hero Indian Super Legue semi-finals between these two team, Kerala Blaster stood tall. It coverted every mistake into an unforgiving goals against the Strong Chennaiyin FC. Too much space in defence, weak marking of players has cost Chennaiyin FC in First leg of the Semi-finals. Special thanks for Sushanth Mathew of Kerala Blasters for the spectacular third goal of the match. No goal keeper will find it easy to stop such a curler. But this is not the end. It's football! Unexpected things happen. Chennaiyin FC still has some fair chance to rebound in the second leg while Kerala Blaster could  still contain its rivals with some pressure on their attack. Either way is possible.

Chennaiyin FC has got legends in their ranks when it comes to defense. But the problem which was evident in the first-leg of the semi-finals in the Hero Indian Super league was lack of co-ordination in defense. Man-marking and covering seems too weak. Each of the defenders, Nesta, Suarez, Mendy, Silverstre stood tall individually. This wouldn't be enough. A well-planned defense line should stop the Sachin's men from scoring goals further. Come on people, with Marco Materazzi as head coach this is a walk in the park for Chennaiyin FC(CFC). But this didn't work out for no reason! Best thing for the CFC is forget the past and move on with good plan in the second-leg. Despite the few mistakes, Mendy stood tall at times with his early crosses, trying to create good oppourtunites.

With the attack, indigenous products Jeje and Balwant Singh did well in the league table matches. But against Kerala Blasters in the first-leg, they found their foot weak. Jeje could have scored but for his shot power and Balwant Singh could have added some attack to keep pressure on the Blasters. Mendoza out of the equations this duo combo must create opportunities for the team. The strength as well as the weakness of the CFC attack is dependence on a single play-maker either Elano or Pelissari. Marking these play makers reduces the scoring chances of CFC. But Mendy has explored other possibilities in the first-leg match with his early-crosses. Hope, other players follow suit with unpredictable passeses to break open the opposition defense. Further, the attack needs variations with dummy runner, overlap to break ice in the opposition defense.

With unrelenting head-coach Materazzi, CFC might rebound in the second-leg semi-final match of the Hero Indian Super League. Let's Football!