Chennaiyin FC cruise into ISL title clash

Kolkata: Chennaiyin FC stormed into the final of the Indian Super League football on a 4-2 aggregate against defending champions Atletico de Kolkata despite losing the semifinal second leg 1-2 here on Wednesday.

 

Chennaiyin, who beat ATK 3-0 in the semifinal first leg on December 12 in Pune, now take on FC Goa in the summit clash at Margao on December 20. In search of three goals to overturn their first leg deficit, ATK started off on the front foot and were rewarded for their efforts with a goal from Dejan Lekic in the 22nd minute following a error of judgement by Chennaiyin defender Bernard Mendy.

 

Iain Hume reduced the deficit and brought the packed Saltlake stadium to its feet in the 87th minute after he converted from a Dejan Lekic cross. But former ATK forward Fikru Teferra, who came in as a substitute, brought the heartbreak, scoring an injury time goal for Chennaiyin in the 90+2nd minute. It was Fikru’s first goal for his new team Chennaiyin and that shut the door on ATK.