2016 Indian Super League Final: Kerala Blasters vs. Atletico de Kolkata

ArsenalFan700

Kerala Blasters FC welcome Atlético de Kolkata in the final of Hero Indian Super League 2016 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi on Sunday evening. The two teams are in familiar territory as they lace up for an encore of the 2014 final. ATK got the better of Kerala in that game but the latter will be eager to avenge that loss and what better way to do it than lifting the trophy in front of their passionate supporters tomorrow. Kerala have been on a roll in Kochi having won their last six matches there but the fact that their only loss at the venue this season came against Kolkata is also certain to prey on their minds. The Blasters will be without their influential player Josu Currais after the Spaniard picked up an automatic suspension due to yellow card accumulation.

Kolkata, on the other hand, head into the game having lost just two games all season. They showed their attacking prowess in the first leg of their semi-final at home against Mumbai to win 3-2 against the best defence in the league. The second leg saw them pull off a defensive masterclass as they held Mumbai’s potent attacking line to a 0-0 draw. ATK will be without defender Robert Lalthlamuana and forward Juan Belencoso owing to suspensions. Plenty of sub-plots will also be on show on Sunday since the player who scored the winner for Kolkata in the 2014 final, Mohammed Rafique is now playing for Kerala, while the Blasters’ top scorer from that season, Iain Hume is now donning Kolkata colours.

Head-to-Head: The inaugural season of the Hero ISL saw the teams play out a 1-1 draw in Kolkata before the Blasters pipped ATK 2-1 in Kochi. The two teams met again in the final of the league that year, which Kolkata won 1-0 to become champions. Hero ISL 2015 witnessed Kolkata do the double over Kerala with them winning 2-1 at home and 3-2 away. This season, ATK edged past the Blasters 1-0 in Kochi before the teams played out a 1-1 draw in Kolkata.

(Disclaimer: Due to finals commitments and writing two 10 page papers, I took this from the ISL website: link)

ArsenalFan700

Pre-Match News:
- Vineeth, Nandy want to win the trophy for Kerala’s passionate fans
- Molina expects a tough encounter in front of an army of yellow
- Coppell urges his players to enjoy the final at home

ArsenalFan700

ArsenalFan700

Game of Goals!

ArsenalFan700

@mohammed_87hassan Don't "wtf" me man You know I would make an amazing preview if I could. Blame my nazi professor for giving us a 10-15 page final paper before our exam on Monday.

ArsenalFan700

My prediction: Kerala Blasters to win 2-1. CK Vineeth will grab a goal.

arunskumar

Anyone coming to kochi for finals todayy!!?

shibier

High demand for tickets , 300 Rs ticket were sold for 3000 and that also not available yesterday. Ticket sale were closed yesterday itself and lots of  hardcore fans from  Malabar went without getting tickets.

indian_gooner

lots of excitement for finals. but sad thing is real passionate fans from malabar are not getting tickets due to black marketing. plain cloth ploice men will be in the stadium and around to check this menace. they have asked public to not to purchase such things and report to them.
police has announced to fans to get into the stadium from 3:30pm to 5:30pm. no water bottles, matchsticks, helmets allowed.

indian_gooner

i really wonder why bottles are not allowed. i went for the game vs chennayin. i was told at the gate that water bottles are not allowed. i had to drink 1 liter water all at once and throw the bottle.
And the funny thing is water bottles are on sale inside the stadium. if organizers are worried about throwing bottles into the playing area, then for what fucking reason is the net placed in there.
Indian stadiums are definitely not spectator friendly and this is not the way. To grow sports, the stadium should treat fans like kings not beggars.

ArsenalFan700

Water bottles and stuff are usually not allowed in most stadiums around the world. Usually when I go to the Emirates I am not allowed any food or drink from outside the ground. This is done usually so you are forced to buy from vendors in the stadium (like how you can't bring food into a movie theater, at least in the US and UK)