Coronavirus
An advisory from the Sports Ministry on Thursday asked all national federations to ensure any sporting event be conducted without spectators. Abiding by that, ISL organisers -- Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL) -- were forced to hold the summit clash behind closed doors, a first for the league which started in 2014. FSDL said it will soon initiate the process of ticket refunds and an announcement will be made through ISL channels.
While that did leave football crazy fans in Goa high and dry, both teams said at the pre-match press conference on Friday that will be no dearth of motivation as they chase a record third ISL crown.
But, this is the first time that an ISL match is playing in an empty stadium. Earlier this year, NorthEast United FC and defending champions Bengaluru FC played behind closed doors in Guwahati in the wake of the protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act in Assam.
The clash
Seeking a hat-trick of titles, ATK reached this season's final after beating Bengaluru FC 3-2 on aggregate in the semifinals over two legs. They were the winners in 2014 and 2106. Chennaiyin FC, who had won the title in 2015 and 2018, had beaten FC Goa 6-5 on aggregates to reach the summit clash.
ATK, coached by Spaniard Antonio Lopez Habas who guided them to their first title in the inaugural season, have been one of the two most consistent teams this season not dropping out of the top-four once. The two-time winners finished second in the points table.
For the Chennai-based outfit, they have seen Irish coach Owen Coyle turn the tables in quite remarkable fashion. They were rock-bottom till December before Coyle replaced John Gregory and in the 14 matches in charge, Chennaiyin went on to lose just three to gatecrash the playoffs by finishing fourth.
Potent strike force
Leading the charge for the two teams will be two potent strike-forces who have scored a combined 33 goals this season.
While ATK have seen their electric combination of Roy Krishna and David Williams do wonders, for their opponents, it has been the guile and persistence of Rafael Crivellaro and Nerijus Valskis. The battle between Krishna-Williams and Crivellaro-Valskis will most definitely have a telling impact on the game.
Krishna and Williams are no strangers to each other, having already struck up an understanding during their time at Wellington Phoenix in the A-League before making their move to Kolkata. Crivellaro and Valskis, on the other hand, have no prior connection but have hit it off after the initial stutter. Chennaiyin scored no goals in their first four matches before going on to score 38 in their next 16. Twenty-one of those have come from Valskis (14) and Crivellaro (7).
Krishna and Valskis are in the race for the ISL Golden Boot award. The former Wellington Phoenix striker, who has netted 15 times, one more than the Chennai frontman, has five assists to his name too. Krishna's partner, Williams may not be in contention for the individual award, but he remains a threat. He has scored seven goals and assisted four times despite missing a few games due to injury.
Indian Stars
Chennaiyin FC's Lallianzuala Chhangte has been enjoying a glorious season, operating down their left flank and has contributed seven goals. In fact, he has the most goals from open play for an Indian player in this campaign. Chhangte's move to Chennaiyin from the erstwhile Delhi Dynamos (now Odisha FC) has paid handsome rewards with the 22-year-old enjoying one of his best season.
Operating in the same flank for ATK, is wing-back Prabir Das. An ever-present option for ATK, Das has re-invented himself this season and has tallied five assists. His deliveries into the box is dangerous and ATK forwards Roy Krishna and David Williams have benefitted from the 26-year-old's service. Krishna and Williams scored a goal each from those crosses in the second leg of their play-off against Bengaluru FC as ATK completed a terrific comeback.