Atletico de Kolkata have got half the job done as the league toppers Mumbai City FC were beaten 3-2 at the Rabindra Sarobar Stadium. Iain Hume’s double ensured that Kolkata came from behind to overturn a 2-1 deficit. Lalrindika Ralte opened the scoring for Kolkata but Leo Costa and Gerson Viera gave the visitors the lead.
The two teams will meet at the Mumbai Football Arena on Tuesday, with the Mumbai team hoping to overturn the deficit at home, but both teams will be without their marquee player. Diego Forlan was sent off after receiving two yellow cards.
Here is how each player fared:
Atletico de Kolkata
Dani Mallo – 6/10
It was a largely comfortable game for the Spaniard. There was nothing that he could have done about both the Mumbai goals. But in the second half, his handling of crosses was perfect as he ensured he took the pressure off Sereno and Debnath at the heart of a rather makeshift defence.
Prabir Das – 6/10
The “Bengali Maldini” as the Kolkata fans call him, had another impressive game. He was helped by the Mumbai attackers not having a good enough day. But going forward, he showed a lot of swagger in the second half. There were stepovers and body feints galore as he enjoyed himself in the second half. His stock just rises with every game he plays.
Kinshuk Debnath – 5/10
His marking was off in the initial moments of the game. He was marking Sunil Chhetri, when somehow the Indian captain deflected the ball into the path of Leo Costa for the Brazilian to lash home. But as the game went on, he looked more and more secure. Mumbai could have taken advantage of his vulnerability, but they didn’t.
Henrique Sereno – 7/10
Sereno was regal in defence. In the absence of Arnab Mondal, it was important that someone took up the role of the leader in the defence. Sereno did that and he did that to perfection. But he was helped by Mumbai not being as incisive or as clinical as they have been all season.
Keegan Pereira – 6/10
Pereira had a steady game, and didn’t do near enough going forward, but stuck to his guns defensively. He made one bad tackle on Chhetri, but no damage was done. Apart from that, he was tidy both in his defensive work and with his passing.
Borja Fernandez – 6/10
There was nothing too spectacular from Borja; which is exactly what any side would want its defensive midfielder to do. He shackled Chhetri and Forlan really well when they came deep to receive the ball.
Jewel Raja Shaikh – 6.5/10
There must have been huge pressure on him, not being a regular and finding himself at the heart of the pitch in such a big game against Vadocz and Gerson, who have been the best defensive pairing in the league. He did his job well as he moved the ball around quickly and always ensured that the likes of Doutie and Postiga got the ball as early as possible.
Sameehg Doutie – 8.5/10
Doutie had a fabulous game. He showed what Kolkata missed in his absence. He was incisive, decisive and terrorised Sena Ralte. Doutie’s directness and the accuracy of his crossing tormented Mumbai all game. There were no direct goal involvements for the South African, but he created several opportunities and Mumbai will not be looking forward to playing him again in three days time.
Lalrindika Ralte – 7/10
Didika opened the scoring for Kolkata with a deft header that eluded the grasp of Amrinder. From then on, he was always an outlet on the left flank. His crossing let him down more than once, though. But it was his cross that rebounded for Hume to blast in Kolkata's equaliser.
Helder Postiga – 6.5/10
Postiga was involved in most of Kolkata’s attacking play. He won the penalty for Hume to score, what eventually was Kolkata’s winner.
Iain Hume – 9/10
Man of the Match. The ISL’s star over the last three seasons once again showed that he is a man for the big occasions. He scored a stunning goal to equalise for Kolkata and then he showed a calm head to send Amrinder the wrong way from the penalty spot. He could have had a hat-trick in injury time, but dragged his shot just wide of the far post.
Substitutes
Abinash Ruidas – 5/10
Kolkata’s 'find of the season' enjoyed himself when he came on for Didika in the 75th minute. He made a few body feints and stepovers, but his crossing was dreadful, especially because he found himself in some fabulous positions.
Javi Lara – N/A
He came on as a more conservative option, replacing Postiga. He added to Kolkata’s steel in midfield and helped the former champions keep the ball effectively in the last five minutes.
Juan Belencoso – N/A
He had one sniff at goal after coming on for Doutie in the 88th minute, but Goian blocked his shot for a corner.
Mumbai City FC
Amrinder Singh – 5/10
Amrinder conceded his first goals of the ISL season in this game. He was nowhere near as decisive as he has shown he can be. He was at fault for Kolkata’s second goal after he flapped at Didika’s cross before the ball fell for Hume to blast home.
Sehnaj Singh – 5/10
Both Didika and Ruidas troubled Sehnaj. The Indian was not really strong enough and did not do enough to prevent crosses from going into the box.
Anwar Ali – 5/10
Hume ran the veteran defender ragged, and Ali was dragged all round the pitch and could not impose himself on the wily Canadian. This was Mumbai’s worst defensive performance of the season and not one of the defenders stood up.
Lucian Goian – 6/10
It was his team’s worst defensive performance of the season and Goian did not do enough to marshall his troops. He himself looked flustered, which was a first for him in a season when he has looked unflappable.
Sena Ralte – 3/10
It was an awful game for the left-back as Doutie gave him a torrid time. He was also lucky to escape a second yellow card on two occasions – the first was for a late challenge on the South African and the second for the tackle on Postiga that led to the penalty. After being a reliable performer all season, the pressure of the occasion got to him today. He was replaced at half-time by Aiborlang Khongjee.
Gerson Viera – 6/10
It was a beautiful header from Gerson that gave Forlan’s delivery the finish that it deserved. But Borja and Jewel Raja overpowered him. Kolkata surprised Mumbai with their high press in the first half, which led to a loss of composure.
Krisztian Vadocz – 5/10
The best midfielder this season should have taken control when Kolkata were pressing high and got them to chase the ball more. It is something he has shown that he can do. But on the day, he was overawed and Kolkata took advantage.
Leo Costa – 6/10
He scored his second goal of the season with a deft finish and was among the better performers for Mumbai. He was surprisingly strong in the air and won a fair few aerial duels against Kinshuk and Sereno.
Cafu – 4/10
Cafu had a quiet game. He picked up a booking in the 21st minute for an awful challenge, where he grabbed Postiga by his arms, while he was still on the ground. Apart from that, he was barely visible on the pitch.
Sunil Chhetri – 4/10
The big players failed Guimaraes on the night. Chhetri’s touch was bad, his passing was diabolical and he did not make any of the incisive runs he is known to make. A day for the Indian captain to forget was maybe partly due to him suffering some sort of physical discomfort.
Diego Forlan – 3/10
On a night when he got little happiness in terms of either support from his team-mates or time and space on the ball, he let the frustration get to him. He picked up two bookings for horrible challenges on Sereno and Jewel Raja. But he did put in a perfect set-piece delivery for Gerson to score Mumbai’s second goal. Mumbai will miss him in the second leg and the Uruguayan has only himself to blame, after making two unnecessary challenges.
Substitutes
Aiborlang Khongjee – 5/10
He played much better than Sena Ralte but Doutie did give him a tough time too.
Matias Defederico – 4/10
His body language seemed to dip after Forlan was sent off. That is when he should have had his head up and dragged his team-mates along with him.
Facundo Cardozo – N/A
He replaced Leo Costa in the 81st minute and was on the pitch for a period of time when Kolkata just did not give the ball away.
