Kerala Blasters players celebrate their win over Delhi Dynamos in the ISL semifinals in New Delhi on Wednesday. Photo: ISLNew Delhi: Kerala Blasters defeated Delhi Dynamos via penalty shootout in the semifinals second leg to enter the final of the Indian Super League (ISL) here on Wednesday.
Delhi were leading 2-1 at the end of the regulation 90 minutes. But with Kerala having won the first leg 1-0, the teams were locked 2-2 on aggregate.
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With both teams unable to score over 30 minutes of extra-time, Kerala upstaged the hosts 3-0 on penalties and earned the right to meet Atletico de Kolkata in Sunday's final in Kochi.
Marcelinho Leite Pereira (21st minute) and Rubén González Rocha (45+) scored for Delhi while Duckens Nazon got the only goal for Kerala.
In the penalty shootout, Josu Currais, Kervens Belfort and Mohammed Rafique got their attempts on target while none of the Delhi players could hold their nerve.
Delhi were reduced to 10 men when Milan Singh was sent off for a rough challenge on Mehtab Hussain in the 28th. But the hosts did well to give a tough fight despite the one-man deficit and in fact created more scoring chances than their opponents.
Kolkata and Kerala had met in the final of the inaugural edition in 2014 as well with the former emerging as the champions.
C. K. Vineeth, left, and Kean Lewis fight for possession. Photo: ISLBlasters will be raring to win on Sunday in front of their fans and erase the memories of that painful defeat.
Both teams started off on an aggressive note with Kerala catching the rather off-colour Delhi defense on the wrong foot time and again.
At the other end of the pitch, Kerala goalkeeper Sandip Nandy was not in the best of form, committing a host of errors.
The former East Bengal goalkeeper was guilty of some poor coordination as a poor clearance from defender Kadio saw Marcelinho in possession inside the Kerala penalty box and the Brazilian cashed in by handing Delhi the lead.
The Dynamos ended the first half on a strong note after Ruben gave his team the lead again in added time.
Delhi Dynamos players congratulate Marcelinho, center, on scoring the opening goal. Photo: ISLA free-kick from Marcos Tebar saw Ruben rise high and sneak the goal home even as Nandy missed the flight and Kadio couldn't head it away.
Delhi in fact can count themselves unlucky as defender Sandesh Jhingan proved to be Kerala's savior with a timely goal-line clearance in the 75th.
Kerala, on the other hand, had their chances with Antonio German firing a long-ranger wide from a good position and C.K. Vineeth's diving header missing the target.
In the first half of extra time alone, Delhi came close several times to scoring the goal that would have mattered.
Florent Malouda was the man in form and he forced goalkeeper Nandy to make two good saves.
Once, Nandy's save saw the rebound fall for Marcelinho, but his attempt sailed just wide of the target.
Another Marcelinho header from close range fell into the waiting hands of the goalkeeper.
(With agency inputs)
