isl-final-2019-2020-atk-chennaiyin-fc-live-updates-results

A brilliant and entertaining ISL final for us watching from home Fatorda Stadium in Goa. Unfortunately, there were no fans in the stadium to witness it and ATK lift their third title. Till next time, I'm your host Siddhant signing off. 

Goodbye, goodnight, and until next time!!

ISL 2019/20: ATK beat Chennaiyin FC 3-1 to clinch third title pic.twitter.com/jAiW10mXhV

— India TV (@indiatvnews) March 14, 2020

90+4'

GOAAAALLLLLLLLL@PronayHalder25 chips it towards @javih89 who dribbles past Kaith and sealed the game for us.#ATK 3-1 #CFC#HeroISLFinal#AamarBukeyATK#BanglaBrigade pic.twitter.com/GPWqKRNe5j

— ATK (@ATKFC) March 14, 2020

𝙃𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮 𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙!@ATKFC are the #HeroISL 2019-20 CHAMPIONS 🏆#HeroISLFinal #LetsFootball #TrueLove pic.twitter.com/GfYxm1Vyzu

— Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) March 14, 2020

ATK ARE HERO INDIAN SUPER LEAGUE CHAMPIONS!! 

That's title number three for them in six attempts and Chennaiyin walk away with nothing more than a runners-up medal. Their first defeat in a final and they look devastated!! Chennai managed to pull one back but in the end, they missed far too many chances to help their cause. That allowed ATK to stay in the game and they deservedly walk away with the win..

This game could have gone another way but Chennaiyin missed chance after chance after chance after chance which hands us this scoreline.

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!

STUPID MISTAKE FROM CHENNAIYIN AND JAVI HERNANDEZ FINISHES IT!!! A cool, calm finish from the midfielder and both defenders and Kaith make a terrible mistake. It allows Hernandez to knock it into the empty net and he makes no mistake.

Arindam's wasted atleast a minute here and we should have added time on added time as ATK break on the counter. Williams tries to win a header but Chennaiyin get there first and then proceed to lose the ball almost immediately!!

Arindam grabs the ball again after a great pass but the goalkeeper has gone down injured. Replays show that there was absolutely nothing in that challenge for Valskis and this is nothing more than time wasting from the ATK goalkeeper.

Four added minutes and this game is still on as Arindam clutches to the ball and falls to the ground. The cross was a decent one but Valskis knocks it right into Arindam's hands.

It comes to nothing and Chennai break on the counter. They win a throw high up inside the ATK's half and it's theirs to lose. It really is theirs to lose and so far, Chennai are making sure they lose it.

Yellow card for Eli Sabia and that was a cynical challenge. He was never going for the ball there and instantly takes out Edu Garcia. Free-kick for ATK and it's a dangerous area which might cause more problems for Chennai.

We're into the final 5⃣ minutes now. 🤞#AattamReloaded #HeroISLFinal

— Chennaiyin FC 🏆🏆 (@ChennaiyinFC) March 14, 2020

If ATK do win this, they'll need to thank Arindam in goal because he has been immense tonight, stopping Chennaiyin on four separate occasions. It might be more, but even that's massive.

Change for ATK, and it's substitute for substitute. Mandi limps off the field and he's replaced by Victor Mongil with about seven odd minutes left on the clock. All Chennai with the ball and it's high time, they find the net.

CHANCE FOR VALSKIS AND HE CANNOT FINISH YET AGAIN!! What is he doing? What is he doing? The cross flies in and Valskis is smack in the middle of two defenders. He rises above the duo and fires his shot wide of the mark. Unfortunately for Chennaiyin and they're in trouble.

CHANCE FOR ATK AND KAITH MAKES SURE HE'S THERE!! The pass is near perfect for Edu Garcia but while he's fast, Kaith is a tad faster and gets there in time.

Chennaiyin are trying a little too much but they're doing well to try and create something against what is a rather rigid ATK team. They've forced the Chennai men to struggle and struggle they have, but the game is still on. T-minus fourteen minutes.

Change for Chennaiyin and they bring on Dragos Firtulescu. He replaces Schembri who has had a good game for the side. A bright spark on that side, now Dragos has to provide that!!

MASSIVE CHANCE FOR ATK AND JAVI HERNANDEZ HAS SENT THAT TO SPACE!! The cross inside was impeccable but the Chennaiyin defender is there to stop it. Unfortunately, his clearance lands straight at Hernandez and his first time shot twangs off the upper stand.

The game is on now and the commentators tell us, that if it stays as it is, then Valskis could win the Golden Boot because of his goals to game ratio.

That puts the Chennaiyin striker level with Roy Krishna and Bartholomew Ogbeche with 15 goals in the race for the Golden Boot but one more could give it to him and him only. He gets another chance and this time Arindam saves it brilliantly!!

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!

GUESS WHO? GUESS WHO? IT'S VALSKIS AND THAT'S NOT A BAD STRIKE!! A wonderful cross finds no-one but Lalrinzuala hands the ball back to Valskis. The striker lets the ball ride across his body and then knocks it, off balance, into the top corner. 

The first change in the second half and it's ATK's as they replace Michael Regin with Pronay Halder.

SAVE FROM KAITH BUT THAT WAS NEVER FINDING THE NET!! For some reason, the cross in from the left and Kaith parries it out for a corner. ATK send their big men up but Kaith gets to the ball first and clears it which allows a half-volley to be fired in. It's wide and finds the dressing room.

Schembri screams at the linesman and the referee, because he was upended. Yet, nothing is given for the forward and he sits on the ground with his mouth still moving. The game has moved on since and eventually the number 27 steps up and moves on.

Told you, it was a fiesty game, didn't I? That's a couple of yellow cards now for either side and yet, this second half has been far from a classic. Chennaiyin does have a large majority of the ball but they cannot make a goal to save their lives.

That's harsh and rash from Regin Michael and some might even hand him a red there. The number 25 tried to kick the Chennaiyin player rather than the ball and he gets his man. And the yellow card from the referee although that was not what the men in blue wanted.

A couple of penatly shouts for Chennaiyin but nothing doing says the referee. That was never going to be given in anyone's favour but ATK and Chennaiyin knew just that. Yet, it never stopped them from screaming for it and the game moves on. Chennai with the ball, ATK still deep with a low blcok!!

ATK are defending in numbers and doing it very very well. They're playing on the fast break now and they're doing it in style. It does give Chennaiyin the chance to dominate the ball and then move it along but ATK have stopped them from doing just that. 

CHHANGTE WITH THE PULLED SHOT AND IT'S WIDE!! Simply not Chennaiyin's day and after a nice move the men in blue simply cannot find the right shot. The first few cannons off defenders and that forces Chhangte to have a slice and it slices wide.

Yellow card for Mandi after he opts to drag Crivellaro back via his shirt. The substitute opts to do that right in-front of the ref and there was going to be only one thing happening after that.

Genuine problems for Chennaiyin who've squandered far too many chances already. The statistics have already told us much with them getting just as much as ATK to score but they've simply failed to take the chances. That needs to change and as they stroke the ball about, they need to do more with it.

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!

THE DEFENSE DISAPPEARS AND EDU GARCIA NICKS NUMBER TWO!!! Williams does really really well in the build up, to beat the defender and he plays the right pass for Garcia. The number 10 runs through and then delightfully knocks it off the post and into the net. Trouble for Chennaiyin!!

And almost immediately, Chennaiyin have a chance. Valskis nicks a nice pass through for Schembri and the forward just cannot get there in time. Arindam gets there in time and it's a good start for the side currently losing!

PEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!!! AND WE'RE BACK FOR THE SECOND HALF!!

GIVE US MORE GOALS!!!

If history is on our side, then we'll get a lot of action in that second half. A lot of action because both these sides have done well in the second half and the world expects an Owen Coyle master-piece. Not bad, eh? Either way, hopefully, we get loads of goals and more action!! 

A half of many chances. 🤯

All to do in the second half. Let’s go lads 💪🏼
#AattamReloaded #HeroISLFinal pic.twitter.com/cljHeSBKKP

— Chennaiyin FC 🏆🏆 (@ChennaiyinFC) March 14, 2020

A bittersweet first half for @ATKFC, who have the lead over @ChennaiyinFC but have lost @RoyKrishna21 to injury!#HeroISLFinal #HeroISL #LetsFootball pic.twitter.com/s9HRN5Eppu

— Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) March 14, 2020

HALF-TIME AND WE'VE GOT A FUN FINAL IN GOA!!

Chennaiyin walks into the break a goal down but the scoreline doesn't tell us the whole truth. It's been a largely level game between the two sides and both have had chances to kill this game. The fact that ATK have the lead is mostly down to Chennaiyin not taking their chances and ATK taking theirs. A simple and cliched solution but that's what it is.

Troubling times here for ATK, but the defender is back up again and he can continue. Habbas looks overjoyed and we will, or rather should, have added time upon added time.

We're into extra time (three minutes) and Schembri has just fired a great chance across the goal with Arindam Bhattacharya scared for a moment. It eventually flew wide but ATK have another problem as a player goes down.

Fiesty game we have here in GOA with nine fouls already been given. That's six to ATK and three to Chennaiyin which shows exactly what the Kolkata side are doing. IT's working..

Still just the one goal in the game but with Krishna off, the onus is now on Williams for ATK and they have the ball. Never mind, a bad pass and off run Chennaiyin for the counter via Thapa who lays it off for Crivellaro. He hands it to Valskis and the striker opts to kick the ATK defender, who nicked the ball, instead of the ball.

The game took a long break to replace Krishna and the striker is in tears. That does give Valskis a chance to win the golden boot and he's had four chances already. Chennaiyin with the ball and that's a bad tackle by Javi Hernandez on Thapa and the men in blue scream for a yellow. It had to come and it doesn't with Hernandez never looking for the ball.

Well, that's an anti-climatic end. The entire game was hyped around the battle between Valskis and Krishna for the golden boot but now Krishna cannot continue. He's set to be replaced by Mandi who is a midfielder by trade, which does see another body hit the middle.

Krishna is struggling and that has to be something that ATK look at during the half-time break but for now Chennaiyin have the ball as they dispose the striker. They're struggling to find the pass yet again and this will eventually hurt the club.

Another free-kick for Chennaiyin and it's about 35 yards away from goal. That's not shooting range by any means, and Valskis still has a shot from loooong range. It finds nothing but the bottom of the wall as he attempts a low drive shot and maybe the better option was a cross?

Krishna's fine and after another break, play resumes. Chennaiyin with the ball right now and they're looking to great back the momentum they had before Krishna went down. It really looked like they should have scored a couple already.

Trouble for ATK as Roy Krishna is on the ground. The striker is getting treatment from the physios and it doesn't look too serious. That might change, however, but for now, ATK may not have to bring their top scorer off the field. 

Hand ball by Das and Chennaiyin have a free-kick in dangerous territory. It''s Crivellaro with the ball in AND SAVED BY Bhattacharja!! Brilliant save, with Andre Schembri's header dropping dangerously into the goal but the ATK goalkeeper was there in the nick of time and parries it out. ATK clear it and Chennai are on the ascendancy.

We're in the early 29th minute and Valskis has already had three good chances. That includes the sitter and his latest shot, which was from outside the box, and forces a save from Bhattacharja and the game is on.

The clearance falls to Chennai and they're back on the ball. Somehow, they win a corner and like most corners, it comes to nothing and ATK counter. The men in blue recover and now have the ball again.

VALSKIS WITH THE CHANCE!! And it's tame shot in the end, but the move was very well crafted and Valskis does well to fool the defender. It gives him enough time and space to fire off a shot, but it's grounded and lacked the direction to beat the goalkeeper. A simple collect but it forces ATK to clear the ball.

Somehow Chennaiyin have the ball and they're slowly trying to get their breath back. They are down and while they're capable of scoring, things haven't gone their way over the last ten odd minutes, i.e. since the goal was scored. Can they change that??

CHANCE, CHANCE AND THEN CHANCE AGAIN!! All happening here for ATK after a brilliant run from Roy Krishna. He cuts in, beats the defender with ease and then gets a shot off from close close range. However, it's saved, the rebound hits a defender and falls to another Javi Hernandez, and his shot is blocked by a defender. Then a third shot is off and nothing. Chennaiyin are reeling!!

Break in the play as Germanpreet goes down. It does look like his ankle, and replays confirm as much with the physios now on the field. He cannot continue and is replaced by Edwin Vanspaul, who was the man that Germanpreet replaced in the first-place.

...And it comes to nothing more than a throw after a great tackle from Das again, I believe. Could be wrong but Chennaiyin win a throw, stroke the ball about but it sees a cross fired into the box. It lacked the power and speed for Jerry to do anything with and Bhattacharja collects his header with ease.

Das again with the cross and this time, it's magnificent. Unfortunately for him, there's nobody in the center but ATK wins a corner after Laldinliana takes no chances. However, like most corners, it comes to nothing and Chennaiyin break for a counter.

That hands Chennai the ball and yet, they still can't break into ATK's final third. The world is still talking about Valskis' miss and it was a sitter. Imagine, if they got the first goal and ATK was on the back-foot right now. We might be watching a different game altogether, or so I hope.

Still no signs of a comeback from Chennaiyin but we're in early stages of this game and ATK have the ball. Prabir Das beats one, then two and is clean through on the far side with a chance for the cross but unfortunately, he simply cannot deliver a decent ball for anyone in the middle.

The goal has awoken something inside ATK and while Chennai are moving the ball around, they've failed to get into the final third for a little more than four minutes now. Every time they get close to that area, ATK pounce and win the ball back. Tough times ahead.

Nervy defending in the build up to that goal and if this game moves about at the same pace as the opening eleven odd minutes, then we're in for a goal-fest. Chances galore so far for both sides but at the moment, Chennaiyin are struggling to keep the ball.

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLL!!!

ATK WITH THE GOAL AND JAVI HERNANDEZ HAS HIS FIRST GOAL OF THE SEASON!! A looong pass finds Roy Krishna on the far left side. He beats his man with a simple cut in and fires in a near perfect cross for Hernandez and the volley bounces off the ground and into the net. No chance for the goalkeeper there.

Chennai with the ball and they stroke it about the field. If you listen carefully, you can hear the players screaming instructions to each other with the managers joining in every now and then. Fun times but this stadium does sound eerie without the crowd.

Stats tell us that an Indian has scored in each of the last five ISL finals. Will it become six in six today? Can an Indian do it again today? We certainly hope so and for those who missed it, Germanpreet Singh won a yellow card in the build up to that free-kick. 

The free-kick comes to nothing but the rebound falls back to Soosairaj and his volley is blocked by the wall of men in blue. This has been a bright start to the game from both sides and it does look like both sides are very nervous. Shocking, not really.

A minute later and ATK have a free-kick in a dangerous dangerous area. A bad pass sees Javi Hernandez over the deadball and Chennai might be in trouble here.

HOW ON EARTH HAS HE MISSED THAT!! Valskis with the greatest chance in his footballing career, after he sends the defender one way and all he had to was beat the goalkeeper. But nerves got to the Chennai man and the shot cannons off the bar. How on earth has he missed there?

Corner for Chennaiyin but it comes to nothing. A sliced shot comes to nothing and ATK win the ball back, earn a throw and look to win their breath back.

PEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!! AND WE'RE OFF!

The battle for the ISL trophy is on and ATK are immediately put on the back-foot with Chennai looking to dominate the ball.

The Indian national anthem is over. The toss is over, sides have picked and both captains pose for the camera alongside the referees. Ref Kasimov Sherzod says "wish you all very well" and as we take an ad break, we're minutes away from kick-off.

History awaits 🏟#HeroISLFinal #HeroISL #LetsFootball #TrueLove pic.twitter.com/9HSrvez5Au

— Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) March 14, 2020

THE TEAMS ARE OUT AND THE STADIUM IS EMPTY!!

Jokes apart, the stadium is empty and both the sides are out of the tunnel. ATK are wearing their traditional red and whites with Chennaiyin FC in their royal blue.

Now if I'm right, then ATK are playing with a back three. That does mean, that theoretically, their formation on the field will be 3-5-2 with Roy Krishna playing up top. Chennaiyin, on the other hand, have stuck to what should be a fluid 4-4-2 diamond with a strong front three. Either way, it should be a very interesting game.

LINEUPS ARE OUT AND BOTH SIDES ARE UNCHANGED!!

That's not altogether really shocking especially given the way both sides played in their last game which does see neither Coyle nor Habbas change anything. However, there is one starting eleven change for Coyle who brings in Germanpreet in for Edwin Vanspaul.

Lineups are below.. 

ATK XI: Arindam Bhattacharja (GK, 29), Sumit Rathi (2), John Johnson (4), Pritam Kotal (7), Prabir Das (33), Regin Michael (25), Javier Hernandez (19), Michael Soosairaj (23), Edu Garcia (10), David Williams (9), Roy Krishna (C, 21).

Subs: Dheeraj Moiranghtam (GK, 1), Victor Mongil (18), Armando Sosa Pena (3), Pronay Halder (17), Balwant Singh (15), Jobby Justin (22), Jayesh Rane (16).

Chennaiyin XI: Vishal Kaith (GK, 31), Eli Sabia (13), Lucian Goian (C, 6), Jerry Lalrinzuala (18), Laldinliana Renthlei (26), Germanpreet Singh (28), Lallianzuala Chhangte (7), Anirudh Thapa (15), Rafael Crivellaro (50), Nerijus Valskis (9), Andre Schembri (27).

Subs: Karanjit Singh (GK, 1), Masih Saighani (5), Deepak Tangri (22), Dragos Firtulescu (10), Edwin Vanspaul (8), Thoi Khangebam (11), Rahim Ali (24).

📽 | @ChennaiyinFC head coach Owen Coyle discusses team mentality, their preparation and more in an exclusive interview ahead of the #HeroISLFinal.#HeroISL #LetsFootball pic.twitter.com/IfX7jrVXM5

— Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) March 14, 2020

📽 | Watch @ATKFC head coach Antonio Lopez Habas' exclusive interview as his team prepares to face @ChennaiyinFC in the #HeroISLFinal.#HeroISL #LetsFootball pic.twitter.com/srK5Wdj3pZ

— Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) March 14, 2020

We’re into March, where the only thing that matters is football. Actually, the only thing that should matter is football but unfortunately the outbreak of the coronavirus has seen everything suspended, well nearly everything. Mexico and India still play their football but for us, the focus is the ISL. It’s been a long four odd months of football.

Long, arduous and almost always brilliant. The semi-finals proved that magnificently as ATK beat, reigning Champions, Bengaluru FC 3-2 on aggregate in a second leg that was nothing like it’s first. The other side, Chennaiyin FC managed their trick after what was a fascinating tie with it ending 6-5 on aggregate, barely in Chennaiyin’s favour. That game was not convincing, from Chennaiyin FC’s perspective but they did what they had to and now an empty Fatorda welcomes both sides.

Empty because of the virus that has already been termed as a pandemic by the WHO, but it’s in no away going to stop the football. Both coaches have already dismissed the mere though that either of their sides needed extra motivation with the trophy at stake. Both managers were coy about the way they might set things up and both managers are experienced to know just what is at stake.

Fans are upset but will show up, the world around them looks rattled but yet fans will still show up and it will be an eerily fought final. But, with ATK and Chennaiyin FC out there in the ring, at 7.30pm IST, an empty Fatorda could just bear witness to an absolute classic. Or so we hope.