March 17 – Hyderabad will feature in their maiden Indian Super League (ISL) final against Kerala Blasters after overcoming ATK Mohun Began 3-2 on aggregate in the competition’s second semi-final.
The Kolkata giants won the second leg 1-0 with a 79th minute goal from Roy Krishna, but it was not enough to overcome Hyderabad’s first-leg 3-1 victory throughs goals from Bartholomew Ogbeche, Yasir Mohammad and Javier Siverio. The franchise from southern India had finished second in the regular season behind Jamshedpur.
I’m very frustrated because we lost in the last game, the championship and now we lost the semi-final,” said ATJ coach Juan Ferrando.
“Of course, I’m not happy but it’s my feeling about the team. I’m very happy because they worked a lot in a difficult situation with quarantine and with the change in coaching style. I’m happy for them but thinking about myself I’m very disappointed.”
On Sunday, Hyderabad will play Kerala Blasters in the final. The Kerala franchise have played in two previous finals but lost on both occasions.
“This season is historical for us,” said Hyderabad coach Manuel Marquez. “Now, to arrive in the final after winning against ATKMB, in my opinion, who had the best players in Hero ISL.”
On Sunday, they will play Kerala Blasters in the final to wrap up the eighth season of the ISL, which supplanted the I-league as India’s premier competition. The winner will succeed Mumbai City as champions.
It is Jamshedpur however that will represent India in the Asian Champions League as the winners of the ISL’s regular season.
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