Atletico de Kolkata beat Kerala Blasters 1-0 to become ISL champions

Mumbai, Dec 20 (IANS) Substitute Mohammad Rafique fired in an injury time header as Atletico De Kolkata clinched the inaugural ISL

Mumbai, Dec 20 (IANS) Substitute Mohammad Rafique fired in an injury time header as Atletico De Kolkata clinched the inaugural Indian Super League crown with a 1-0 win over Kerala Blasters here Saturday.

Rafique, who replaced Mohammad Rafi in the 74th minute of the mega clash at the packed D.Y. Patil stadium, followed up a corner from Czech defender Jakub Podany to fire the header in the 94th minute, a minute before the second half injury time was slated to end to send ATK fans into raptures here as also in Kolkata and other parts of the world.

Rafique - later adjudged hero of the match - ran into the box, outjumped rival defender Nirmal Chetri and put the ball into the net past Blasters' veteran custodian- cum-coach David James to decide the fate of the game which seemed poised to roll into extra time.

It was a revenge of sorts for the Sourav Ganguly co-owned ATK, which had lost 1-2 to the Blasters in Kochi in the return leg of the round robin stage. The two sides had finished 1-1 in the first leg.

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