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Panaji, December 17
Atletico de Kolkata got their act right in the nick of time to humble crowd favourites FC Goa 4-2 in a tie-breaker and advance to the final of the inaugural Indian Super League (ISL) here today.
Atletico de Kolkata will lock horns with Kerala Blasters FC in the summit showdown at the DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai on Saturday.
The second-leg semifinal between the two fierce rivals went into extra time after they were locked goal-less in the regulation time. With both teams failing to break the deadlock even in the 30 minutes of extra time, the game was decided via penalty shootout in which the visitors emerged winners. Atletico de Kolkata's Josemi, Mohammed Rafi, Jofre Mateu and Borja Fernandez were bang on target when it mattered the most.
For the Goa outfit, Andre Santos's spot-kick sailed over the bar while Haroon Amiri's effort struck the upright. Tolgay Ozbey and Clifford Miranda successfully converted but that was not enough.
The first leg had also ended in a goal-less draw.
Bruno Pinheiro returned from suspension for the home side while coach Zico also included Peter Carvalho in his starting XI. The duo replaced the injured Narayan Das and Youness Bengelloun.
Atletico de Kolkata coach Antonio Lopez Habas made two changes, bringing in Arnab Mondal and Baljit Sahni, who was coming off a one-game suspension. The visitors, though, were without Fikru Teferra.
The visitors had the first chance of the game when Jakub Podany was brought down by Gregory Arnolin, but the resultant free-kick by Josemi was off target. — PTI
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