COLACOŇTRIPLEŇ HELPSŇATKMBŇ CONQUERŇKINGS

KOLKATA: It took ATK Mohun Bagan (ATKMB) a while after a Saturday dunking that unhinged a sliver of the stadium roof, flattened pitchside hoardings and led to a 51-minute stoppage to find their bearings. In that time, Bashundhara Kings hit the same upright twice. But once Liston Colaco set them on their way, ATKMB swept past the Bangladesh champions 4-0 to stay alive in the AFC Cup.

On a pitch with a drainage system so GOOD–ATKMB coach Juan Ferrando said the ground was perfect–that two Group D matches could be held after a severe storm, Colaco was an unstoppable force. His first hattrick for ATKMB took his tally to four goals in this competition after 12 goal contributions in the Indian Super League. Fast and sharp, Colaco kept running at the Bashundhara Kings defence giving them nightmares every time he did. And he was clinical in front of goal.

So, when Bishwanath Ghosh slipped, Colaco, after staying onside to meet Carl Machugh’s lob, didn’t break stride to tap home. “The first goal gave us the confidence,” he said after ATKMB had lost 2-4 to Gokulam Kerala FC on Wednesday.

If Mchugh’s weighted pass opened the scoring, one from Joni Kauko buttressed the margin. The Finland international turned left but played the ball down the middle to have Colaco scooter away, produce a feint that got Anisur Rahman to lose balance and then round the goalkeeper to score. In the 53rd minute, Colaco completed his hat-trick. Kauko played Singh into space and after defender Khaled Shafiei slipped, he sped into the box and found Colaco who, in two touches, scored after Roy Krishna had created space by dragging a defender away. Substitute David Williams completed the good night in the 77th minute by finishing a move he started by finding Subhasish Bose on the left.

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Cornelius Stewart’s 50th minute goal, off a pass from former La Liga midfielder Tana, helped Maziya beat Gokulam Kerala FC 1-0 in the second match.