Atletico de Kolkata take ISL top spot on goal difference

ATK pip NorthEast United 1-0

KUWAIT CITY, Jan 28: Substitute Balwant Singh came off the bench in the 90th minute and scored the winner in injury time to help ATK pip NorthEast United 1-0 and go top the Indian Super League table at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan.

The see-saw battle for the top spot continues as the hosts created plenty of chances but had to wait until injury time to collect all three points. All their efforts earlier were wasteful until Balwant proved to be the difference.

Despite his absence from the touchline, Antonio Habas’ side returned to the top of the table, level on points with FC Goa who also have 27 points from 14 matches. The Highlanders remained in ninth position with 11 points from as many games. box for Krishna in the 39th minute. The ATK striker’s shot from a one-on-one situation was saved by Subhasish Roy Chowdhury with his feet. At the stroke of half-time, a Ninthoinganba Meetei cross met Martin Chaves whose header from inside the box forced a fingertip save from goalkeeper Arindam Bhattacharya.

Robert Jarni hoped to gain a foothold in the game by bringing on Jose Leudo and Federico Gallego as the teams walked out for the second half, but the hosts continued to threaten. The influential Garcia once again sent a brilliant through-ball into the box, this time for Michael Soosairaj who ran in behind the defence and attempted to poke a finish into the net. With the keeper well beaten, Mislav Komorski’s goal-line clearance kept the scoreline intact.

Defender Pritam Kotal was next in line to be presented with another big chance to score in the 68th minute. A Javier Hernandez free-kick caused chaos inside the box and the ball looped towards Kotal whose strike flew over the bar.

There were chances for both teams to settle the matter towards the end. Nikhil Kadam’s through ball almost sent Gallego through on goal but for Arindam’s quick intervention. At the other end, Mislav Komorski came up with two crucial interventions to deny Krishna and Prabir Das.

Just when it looked like the teams would have to share the spoils, substitute Balwant Singh produced a matchwinner in the last of the four added minutes. The striker, who came off the bench for Edu Garcia in the 90th minute and was left unmarked inside the box for a Hernandez corner-kick, headed the ball into the net to the delight of the home crowd.

Atletico de Kolkata players celebrate after defeating NorthEast United.