Same final, same opponent, this time in Kochi

Flashback · 18 December 2016 · ISL final, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Kochi

Two years after Navi Mumbai, the final came home. Kerala Blasters, now coached by Steve Coppell, met ATK in the 2016 ISL final at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi. The same two clubs, a different stage, and this time the crowd was theirs.

Mohammed Rafi gave Kerala the lead in the 37th minute. For seven minutes the stadium had the final it wanted. Then, a minute before half-time, Henrique Sereno equalised for ATK.

It stayed 1–1 through the second half and through extra time. Penalties.

Antonio German scored. Kervens Belfort scored. Mohammed Rafique scored. But Elhadji Ndoye put his kick over the bar, and Cédric Hengbart's was saved by Debjit Majumder. At the other end Graham Stack saved from Iain Hume, who had played for Kerala in 2014. Sameehg Doutie, Borja Fernández and Javi Lara all scored for ATK, and Jewel Raja took the kick that won it. 4–3.

The second final was in some ways harder than the first. In 2014 the end came from nowhere, in stoppage time. In 2016 it came slowly, kick by kick, in front of the club's own supporters.

The Blasters had reached two finals in three seasons. Both against the same club. Both lost by the smallest of margins.

Written by the footballkerala.com desk with AI help, from the published sources listed here, and checked by an editor. Sources: Wikipedia (2016 Indian Super League final), Indian Super League, The Quint, The Peninsula, India.com.