Chennaiyin win ISL after dramatic final

Chennaiyin FC and FC Goa will lock horns in the ISL final to decide the victor, and the match is sure to produce some fireworks. But joy soon turned into anguish as Goa conceded an own goal to tie the game in added time, and before anyone could realize what was unfolding on the field, Mendoza struck the victor.

The incident, the police said, occurred after the match at the FC Goa dugout.

Not surprisingly, Chennaiyin FC celebrated their win in front of a near empty stadium, and those who had stayed behind were loud and clear in their assessment that the best team did not win.

Stiven Mendoza was the star of the day scoring in the final minute to hand his team the title, after the team had come back from a 1-2 deficit just a minute ago.

Chennaiyin beat ISL holders Atletico de Kolkata to book their place in the final, and took the lead after Mendoza was brought down in the box by Pronay Halder eight minutes after the interval. Chennaiyin FC surged ahead in the 52nd minute after they won the first of their two penalties.

Goa have been ready to find who their opponents within the ultimate can be after dispatching Roberto Carlos’s Delhi Dynamos Three-Zero on Tuesday, overturning a first-leg deficit.

And then barely a minute after the restart, Mendoza won another penalty after being taken down by Kattimani who was lucky to stay on the field. Pelissari stepped up and saw his initial effort saved by Kattimani before converting the rebound to put Chennaiyin FC up 1-0.

Chennaiyin keeper Apoula Edima Edel was also in fine form as Goa went searching for the victor, making a good stop from Thongkhosiem Haokip 15 minutes from time.

Objectives from Spanish midfielder Jofre, and one every from Brazilians Rafael Coelho and Dudu within the second leg swung the tie in favour of Zico’s males.