Chennai, December 16
Kerala Blasters FC survived a tremendous onslaught from hosts Chennaiyin FC to win 4-3 on aggregate in the first semifinal play-off to enter the final of the inaugural Indian Super League (ISL) at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here on Tuesday.
Chennaiyin won the second leg match 3-1 after extra time, but that wasn't enough to overturn a 0-3 deficit from the away game at Kochi.
Chennaiyin enjoyed most of the possession, and they were rewarded in the 28th minute when McAllister was sent off for a second bookable offence. Chennaiyin, buoyed by the numerical superiority, poured in forward and took the lead just three minutes before half-time; Mikael Silvestre flung himself to a Materazzi free-kick from the left flank to head home.
Kerala wilted under pressure and conceded again with defender Jihngan chesting the ball into his own net in the 76th minute. With time running out, Chennayin restored parity in the tie when an unmarked Jeje opportunistically netted the third goal in the 90th minute to square the aggregate score 3-3 and stretch the contest into extra time. The match turned in Kerala's favour in the extra time with Pearson scoring the winning goal with a fierce right-footed strike.
In the second semifinal, Goa will take on Kolkata on Wednesday. — IANS