Roy Krishna celebrates ATK Mohun Bagan’s winning goal against Kerala Blasters. – ISL / Sportzpics
An amazing comeback with lions hearts brought ATK Mohun Bagan (ATKMB) a 3-2 win against Kerala Blasters (KBFC) at the clash of the Indian Super League (ISL 2020-21) at Fatorda Stadium on Sunday on.
The notable win brings ATKMB to 27 points from 14 games, three points ahead of leaders Mumbai City, while Blasters remains in ninth place after its shocking breakdown.
Kerala Blasters made their attack intent immediately clear and almost went ahead in the fifth minute. Tiri’s headed back pass was too weak and Jordan Murray clung to it before aligning it for Sahal Abdul Samad. The boy played it to Gary Hooper, who returned it to Sahal as neither of them seemed ready to shoot. When Sahal managed to pull the trigger, Jhingan threw his body on the line to block the shot.
It was a sign of the future for the Blasters when it was hit in the 14th minute thanks to a sensational hit from Hooper went on. Sandeep Singh played a lob from the right flank and Hooper knocked him down skillfully before triggering a phenomenal volley from 31 yards away. Arindam Bhattacharja, who is second in the race for the Golden Glove, had no chance when the ball sailed past him into the top corner. Murray almost mimicked Hooper with a similar hit seven minutes later, but couldn’t keep his shot on target.
Gary Hooper (left) scored from over 30 yards to give KBFC the lead against ATKMB. – ISL / Sportzpics
Gary Hooper (left) scored from over 30 yards to give KBFC the lead against ATKMB. – ISL / Sportzpics
Roy Krishna, ATKMB’s top scorer this season, came into play after half an hour. He got a nice header from Prabir Das’ first, which sailed narrowly and scored a poisonous goal a few minutes later. ATKMB looked otherwise incapable of attack.
The team of Kibu Vicuna doubled their lead shortly after the break when Costa Nhamoinesu knocked in Sahal’s corner. It was only the second time this season that ATKMB stared at a two-goal deficit, but it didn’t put the team off. Marcelinho, who made his debut for the Mariners, gave ATKMB life by bombing the center and fighting his way past Jeakson Singh before placing it past the goalkeeper in the 59th minute.
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The momentum quickly turned in favor moved by ATKMB and leveled six minutes later. Blasters’ captain Jessel Carneiro handled the ball in the box and Krishna drilled the penalty into the right corner. The Mariners were relentless in their pressure, scoring six shots on goal between the 53rd and 68th minutes compared to the Blasters’.
The pressure that apparently led the KBFC to defend when two sloppy back passes, one from Sandeep and the other from Costa, nearly gave the opposition a third goal.
The third goal came and it came from Krishnas left shoe as he was getting the most out of the nervous backline by creating an opportunity out of nowhere. He stole the ball from Sandeep and then raced past Jeakson before rolling it into the back of the net. The goal in the 87th minute, his ninth, brought the tie to bed. The win also marked the first time a Habas-trained ISL team won a game after being two goals down.
Ref: https://sportstar.thehindu.com
