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The long road back to a final, and Fatorda
In March 2022 the Blasters reached their first final in more than five years. Hyderabad FC stood in the way.
Flashback · 15 and 20 March 2022 · ISL semi-final and final
After 2016 the wait for another final went on and on. It ended in March 2022, under Ivan Vukomanović.
The semi-final was against Jamshedpur FC. The Blasters had won the first leg 1–0. In the second leg, on 15 March, Adrián Luna scored in the 18th minute, Pronay Halder equalised in the 50th, and it finished 1–1. Kerala went through 2–1 on aggregate.
Five days later they met Hyderabad FC in the final at the PJN Stadium in Fatorda, Goa.
Rahul KP scored in the 68th minute. With two minutes of normal time left, Kerala were close to a first title. Then, in the 88th minute, Sahil Tavora equalised for Hyderabad. Extra time could not separate them, and for the second time a Blasters final went to penalties.
This one belonged to Hyderabad's goalkeeper, Laxmikanth Kattimani. He saved from Marko Lešković, Nishu Kumar and Jeakson Singh. Javier Siverio missed for Hyderabad, but it did not matter. Hyderabad won the shoot-out 3–1.
Three finals, three defeats, two of them on penalties.
Written by the footballkerala.com desk with AI help, from the published sources listed here, and checked by an editor. Sources: Indian Super League (semi-final, final), Onmanorama, Wikipedia (2022 Indian Super League final), The Quint.
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