ISL: Matches that thrilled!

The final of the second edition of the ISL proved worthy of the occasion. And you could not have hoped for a more dramatic ending to what had already been a fascinating final. With just three minutes remaining, the host was 2-1 up, but Chennaiyin scored twice inside a minute to devastate the locals’ hopes of endless parties on that December night two winters ago. One of those goals, though, was an own goal, that too by the goalkeeper Laxmikant Kattimani. Then, the winner was netted by the league’s top-scorer Stiven Mendoza with a left-footer in the injury-time, making up for the penalty that he missed earlier.

Another exciting high-scoring match from the third season of the ISL that ended in a draw. Three times, the visiting NorthEast men were behind in the match, and three times they came back. It was just seconds before the final whistle that they scored their third goal, with Shouvik Ghosh heading in a corner kick. But, the night belonged to Dudu Omagbemi, who scored all Chennaiyin’s goals to author a memorable hat-trick.

The Blasters had reached Chennai with a cushion of a three-goal lead for the second leg of the second semifinal. But, it was stunned by the host, which pumped in three goals to take the match into extra-time. The last of those goals was netted by Jeje Lalpekhlua in the 90th minute, taking the match into extra-time. Three minutes before the final whistle of the match, which saw both the sides being reduced to 10 men, Stephen Pearson scored the goal that took Kerala to the final.

Few draws have thrilled as much as this one. The ball rarely stayed in the midfield as both the sides launched many an attack into the rival box. The match also saw the host staging a splendid recovery, after being down by two goals from Krisztian Vadocz. Delhi was still trailing 2-3 going into the last 10 minutes, but Marcelinho ensured the match would be tied by converting a penalty.

Nine goals in a match, yet only one separated the two teams. Before the advent of the ISL, such a result would not have been imaginable in Indian football in a match between two top sides. In that high-scoring feast, local fans also had a particular reason to be proud about, as 21-year-old Goan Sahil Tavora scored twice. The second of those goals was the winner, as he curled in a stunner in injury time.

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The final of the second edition of the ISL proved worthy of the occasion. And you could not have hoped for a more dramatic ending to what had already been a fascinating final. With just three minutes remaining, the host was 2-1 up, but Chennaiyin scored twice inside a minute to devastate the locals’ hopes of endless parties on that December night two winters ago. One of those goals, though, was an own goal, that too by the goalkeeper Laxmikant Kattimani. Then, the winner was netted by the league’s top-scorer Stiven Mendoza with a left-footer in the injury-time, making up for the penalty that he missed earlier.