[caption id="attachment_29329" align="aligncenter" width="580"]Kolkata ATK is through to the semis for successive 3rd time. Image Source: Hero ISL[/caption] Internet Desk: Atlético de Kolkata qualified for their third successive Hero Indian Super League semi-final after playing out a 1-1 draw against Kerala Blasters FC in front of more than 12,000 spectators at the Rabindra Sarobar Stadium in Kolkata on Tuesday evening. CK Vineeth gave Kerala an early lead in the eighth minute before Stephen Pearson equalised for the hosts 10 minutes later. The match was far from eventful, but it served the home team’s purpose as well as that of rivals Delhi Dynamos FC, who also qualified with the result on the night. The first chance of the game fell to Kerala from a corner in the fifth minute but Sandesh Jhingan’s header was straight at goalkeeper Debjit Majumder, who gathered it comfortably. The Blasters got the lead three minutes later through a mistake by Majumder. He fumbled a cross from the left that should have been gathered easily, and Cedric Hengbart was at hand to lob it towards Vineeth, who nodded home to give Kerala an early lead. It was his fourth goal of the season. ATK though pressed forward and got their reward in the 18th minute when Helder Postiga fed Pearson with a lovely ball and the Scot slotted home first-time for his second goal in two games. Both teams were restricted to half chances from then on as they tried to play it safe. Postiga’s glancing header in the 41st minute blazed dangerously across goal, but that was as close as it got as the teams went into the tunnel at half-time with the score-line reading 1-1. The second half started much the same as the first had ended, with not much fluency in play as chances were few and far between. The teams played hopeful long balls and tried shots from long range but to little effect as the game dragged on. Kerala had a great chance to go 2-1 up in the 77th minute but Mohammad Rafi, who was first to react to a ball that fell to him from a corner, lashed his shot against Pritam Kotal from close range. There were no further chances as the game drew to a close. With the draw, ATK became the only team to qualify for the semis in all three editions of the league so far.

ISL 3: Kolkata book semis berth with 1-1 draw against Kerala