Atlético de Kolkata had an up and down season in the inaugural edition of the Hero Indian Super League. They opened their league campaign with three straight wins, but only won one of the remaining fourteen games, qualifying for the semi-finals thanks mainly to their refusal to accept defeat – Kolkata finished the league phase with seven draws, more than any other team. They were nearly headed out of the competition in the league phase itself. 1-0 down at halftime of their final league game, against FC Goa, in a game they needed to at least draw, things looked bleak for the Kolkata side. But a second-half equaliser put them through to face Goa again in the semi-finals. They held Goa goalless over the two legs, before winning a dramatic penalty shoot-out by converting all of their spot-kicks. The final, against Kerala Blasters FC, looked to be heading into extra time as well, but Kolkata’s Mohammed Rafique had other ideas. 22-year-old Rafique, a second-half substitute, was making only his second appearance of the competition, and had played just over twenty minutes in the entire season – but it was what he did in the last of those minutes which mattered most. With time nearly up, Jakub Podaný swung in a corner, and the Kolkata-born Rafique rose highest to head home and hand his side the ISL trophy. It was a fitting end to a thrilling first ISL season.