Atletico de Kolkata ensured their passage through to the semifinals of the Indian Super League (ISL) after a 1-1 draw at home against second placed FC Goa at the Salt Lake Stadium on Wednesday night.
Kolkata finished all 14 of their home and away first round fixtures with 19 points, on par with fourth placed Kerala Blasters but with a better goal difference. Chennaiyin FC and FC Goa took first and second places with 23 and 22 points respectively.
Kolkata will take on their evening's opponents in the first semifinal. The other last four clash is an all southern affair with Chennai taking on Kerala.
Kolkata needed one point from the game to qualify at the expense of fifth placed Delhi Dynamos. Much to the joy of the 37,238 home crowd, their Ethiopian striker scored the equaliser in the 68th minute by converting a penalty. Kolkata had been trailing 1-0 with Goa's Portuguese midfielder Edgar Marcelino opening the scoring in the 27th minute.
The two sides will lock horns again in the same stadium on Sunday in the first leg of their semifinal. The return leg will be in Goa on Dec. 17.
Kolkata began the first half in impressive style. Teffera bothered the Goa defence during the first 15 minutes. However, the visitors settled into their passing game midway into the half. Zico started with Arsenal legend Robert Pires, who played as the holding midfielder. Goa's passing game was built on the silken distribution skills of the former France European Championship winner. Defender Bruno Pinheiro also excelled for Goa, repelling Kolkata's attacks.
The visitors took the lead in the 27th minute. Pires provided a lovely through ball to forward Ranti Martins, whose long-range effort was parried by Kolkata goalkeeper Apoula Edel Bete. Marcelino, starting only his second game, slotted in the rebound from outside the box.
The second half saw Kolkata in attacking mode, searching for the equaliser to stay in the competition. Former Liverpool midfielder Luis Garcia -- their marquee player -- came on as a 46th minute substitute in the frantic search for the equaliser. The home team dominated possession but failed to find the breakthrough much to the frustration of the home crowd.
In the 68th minute, Teffera powered his way into the area. His marker Pinheiro attempted to make the challenge and the striker went down in the box despite no apparent contact being made with the defender. The referee pointed to the spot and flashed the red card at Pinheiro in what seemed like a harsh decision. Fikru converted the spot kick past Goa custodian Laxmikant Kattimani.
Thereafter, Kolkata dominated possession and they defended in numbers during the few moments they lost the ball. The home team did not create any realistic scoring opportunities as they were happy merely to keep the ball and not to concede.
Zico looked ahead with confidence at his side's chances in the semifinals. "We have qualified for the semifinals. That is more important than tonight's result," the Brazilian legend told the ISL website. "I hope to get to first place at the end and win the final."
The Goa boss refused to be drawn into a controversy over the referee's decision to award the home team's penalty. "I didn't see the incident so I can't say. The referee is there to do the necessary work. It's up to them." However, Zico blamed the home team's players for Pinheiro's sending off. "The red card was given to Bruno after the Kolkata team put pressure on the referee," he said.
In Wednesday's earlier kick-off, Peter Reid's FC Mumbai City held hosts NorthEast United FC 1-1 at the Indira Gandhi Stadium in Guwahati. Mumbai finished seventh with 16 points, one more than eighth placed NorthEast United.
The home team took the lead in the 34th minute through Spanish midfielder Koke. Mumbai equalized in the 84th minute through forward Sushil Kumar.