Bengaluru FC rally to pip gritty ATK 2-1 in ISL
Nigerian striker was cynically hacked by Albert Serran in ATK’S half and hurt his quadriceps, said Coppell. That meant lesser workload for Serran and Juanan at the heart of the Bengaluru FC defence.
Neither though could do much when teenager Thatal latched on to Eduardo Santos’ pass, punished Nishu Kumar for ballwatching and compensated for a poor first touch with a superb left-foot finish.
As a team ATK defended the early lead well. Full backs Aiborlang Khongjee and Ricky Lallawmawma kept Sunil Chhetri and Udanta Singh quiet. John Johnson and Gerson Vieira were on Miku and that meant Dimas Delgado’s deliveries weren’t going to places Benagluru FC would have wanted them to.
Barring an early Miku header that was too close to Bhattacharja, Bengaluru FC got no other chance till Boithang Haokip hit the upright off their first corner-kick and that was in second-half stoppage time.
ATK got three corner-kicks and Vieira headed one into the upright. “We played to a plan, had our noses in front with a terrific goal and showed great spirit after being 2-1 down,” said Coppell after the match.
Bengaluru FC move to third on 10 points from four games. After their third home loss, following two wins and a draw, ATK stay fifth on seven points from six games. “This was a good lesson for us,” said Cuadrat.
COMPENSATION SOUGHT IN DROWNING INCIDENT
NEWDELHI: The family of a 15-yearold football player, who drowned in Australia while being on a tour last year, has moved the Delhi High Court seeking compensation of Rs 35 crore from the authorities and demanding an inquiry against them. Justice Vibhu Bakhru sought a response of the Centre, the Delhi government, School Games Federation of India and Rajkiya Sarvodaya Kanya Vidyalaya, where the minor girl was studying. Nitisha Negi was swept away by a storm at the beach in December last.
RAMKUMAR OUSTED; BOPANNA ADVANCES
NEW DELHI: India’s Ramkumar Ramanathan was knocked out of the singles event of the Shenzhen Challenger tournament in China but advanced to the men’s doubles quarter-finals with Saketh Myneni on Wednesday. Qualifier Sasi Kumar Mukund is the only Indian left in the singles draw
At the Rolex Masters in Paris, India’s Rohan Bopanna and Edouard Roger-vasselin beat Robin Haase and Matwe Middelkoop 7-6(3), 5-7, 10-5 to progress to the second round.
AMERICAN WISE NAMED PGA ROOKIE OF YEAR
LOSANGELES: Aaron Wise, who captured his first US PGA Tour title in his 18th start as a member, won the 2018 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year Award on Tuesday.
“My parents did well to keep food on the table,” Wise said. “We didn’t have much,” he added.
LAST-MINUTE DEAL TO SALVAGE CANADA’S BID
OTTAWA: Ottawa and the province of Alberta have struck a last-minute funding deal to salvage Canada’s 2026 Winter Olympics bid ahead of a crucial vote, which will take place on Wednesday, on canceling the process.