Semifinal hat-trick for Kolkata

Atletico de Kolkata (ATK) became the first team in the history of the Indian Super League (ISL) to enter the semi-finals of all three editions with another draw, their seventh.

The 1-1 result meant that Antonio Habas, formerly of ATK, will travel to Kolkata with FC Pune City for an inconsequential match. It also snuffed out defending champions Chennaiyin FC’S slim chance of a semifinal berth.

Mumbai City FC, Delhi Dynamos and ATK are in the semifinals and the fourth spot will be decided between Kerala Blasters and North East United FC.

Like in most of their games in ISL3, ATK controlled the game. When they played through really dangerous. Barring a free header that Senegalese midfielder Elhadji Ndoye couldn’t keep on target, Kerala Blasters weren’t really able to test Debjit for 10 minutes was thanks to a clanger from Majumder.

When Mehtab Hossain lobbed a free-kick, he failed to grip it and Cedric Hengbart got a timely leg in to find Vineeth who headed into an empty goal. In the 13th minute, Majumder let another one slip but had time to recover. Not for nothing did he seem relieved when Stephen Pearson equalised.

Fittingly, that move had Portuguese Postiga providing the assist though Iain Hume’s ability to think on his feet was just important. It was Hume’s presence of mind that created the match winner against FC Goa and here too, it was the Canadian return pass to Postiga that caught Sandesh Jhingan ballwatching. Jhingan’s covering too wasn’t perfect and Pearson moved in to score against his