ATK defeat FC Goa to surge on top of table

KOLKATA:ATK quelled FC Goa and knocked them off the top perch in ISL-6 with a 2-0 win here on Saturday despite struggling to breathe for a passage of play in the second half.

Goals from Pritam Kotal and Jayesh Rane took ATK to 24 points, the same as FC Goa, after 13 rounds and on pole position on better goal difference. ATK have a goal difference of 13 and FC Goa stay on nine.

The 2-0 win means ATK have a better goal differential against FC Goa, having lost 1-2 away.

After a cautious first half that had FC Goa hitting the side netting twice and Hugo Boumous being unable to keep his shot on target and ATK having little to show for barring a Jobby Justin header that lacked power, the game opened up.

ATK came out in the second half attacking FC Goa’s sidebacks and using the width of the Salt Lake Stadium pitch. They scored in the 48th minute when

Roy Krishna dragged two players wide and Kotal ran in to meet his chip with a powerful header.

“It was a mistake defending a set-piece. That the goal came early in the second half proved decisive,” said FC Goa coach Sergio Lobera.

FC Goa’s plan of attack was, well, attack. It came in unrelenting waves forcing ATK into desperate defending, fouls in dangerous areas and putting bodies on the line to protect Kotal’s goal.

Between the 58th and the 78th minutes, ATK struggled to get the ball out of their half as FC Goa attacked with all outfield players barring centre-backs Mourtada Fall and Carlos Pena.

Rane could have put the game to bed in the 80th minute after Krishna took Singh away, drew goalkeeper Mohammad Nawaz out and played it to him. From almost on the goalline, Rane ballooned over. Eight minutes later, he didn’t. Again it was Krishna who took Singh with him after holding on to a Kotal free-kick. This time Rane sent the hookback home with a stab.