ISL 2018-19: ATK 1-2 Bengaluru FC – 5 Talking Points

The match was anticipated as a clash between two titans. Two-time champions ATK were facing last year’s finalist Bengaluru FC. Both teams had the firepower to topple each other. In the end, it was Bengaluru who prevailed, for the third successive time against ATK.

Bengaluru won 2-1 in a match where they kept supreme possession and came back emphatically after trailing by a goal. The win put Bengaluru on the third place of ISL league table with 10 points from four matches. The Karnataka based club hasn’t lost a single match this edition of the ISL.

ATK's poor home run is showing no signs of ending. They have now lost three matches at home and it will be some work to for coach Steve Coppell to get the team back on its feet after six matches.

It was young Komal Thatal who gave ATK the lead in 15th minute. Everton Santos split the Bengaluru defence with a superb pass to Thatal, who cut inside before unleashing a low drive. Gurpreet Singh Sandhu had no chance to save.

Bengaluru got things under their control quickly and Miku could’ve scored with a bullet header but Arindam Bhattacharya somehow punched the ball away. Miku didn’t take much time to equalise, and what a goal it was!

Bengaluru got the free-kick just outside the box and Miku played a short pass with Sunil Chhetri before shooting a curler on the top corner, making Bhattacharya a mere audience.

Australian Erik Paartalu got the lead for his team from another set-piece. Albert Serran couldn’t connect Dimas Delgado’s corner and Paartalu unleashed a half-volley which Bhattacharya again had no chance to save.

Despite having quite a few chances, ATK couldn’t equalise and Bengaluru maintained their supremacy. This was their third win against the Kolkata-based team.

Let us look at the five talking points of the game:

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#1 What’s wrong with ATK at home?

No other team has as big a stadium as ATK. The Salt Lake Stadium has a capacity of almost 67,000. Though the turnout may be poor in terms of capacity, ATK always has a large number of crowd support which very few teams can enjoy.

Teams always look for their home ground to make a turnaround. But the case is exactly opposite for ATK. At the Salt Lake Stadium, ATK won only one match last season. This year, they have lost three out of four already.

The fans are already feeling heart-broken and the number of spectators may dip down if the tradition goes on. In a football-loving city of Kolkata, that will not be a good advertisement for football. So, ATK need to win at home to show their love for the supporters.

#2 Superb possessional play from Bengaluru

Spanish coach Carles Cuadrat has infused possession-based football into the playing style of Bengaluru FC well [Image: ISL]

Bengaluru have a Spanish flair in their side. So it may not be surprising to see them playing possessional football on the pitch. Spanish coach Carles Cuadrat has deployed the system very usefully.

Against ATK, Bengaluru tried to keep the possession right from the word go. They have few ball players such as Udanta Singh and Paartalu who can keep the possession. In the match, Bengaluru played a total of 555 passes, out of which 76 percent were successful.

ATK, who mostly relied on crosses and long balls, failed to anticipate Bengaluru’s attack. Each time they got the ball, someone from Bengaluru dispossessed them easily. The British style of play from ATK couldn’t help them against a more composed side like Bengaluru. Chhetri, Paartalu and Delgado were dominating the midfield.

ATK coach Steve Coppell should’ve introduced Cavin Lobo, who controls the ball well and can keep possession for long phases. He can also make a difference on the midfield by creating chances for the strikers. Coppell should consider Lobo for the future matches.

#3 Despite conceding two goals, ATK defence was solid

Miku and Gerson Vieira go up for a header [Image: ISL]

To be honest, ATK played well in the first 40 minutes. They had a game plan and were sitting deep in defence not allowing their opposition a single opportunity to score.

They need to learn from their mistakes during the set-pieces. There was a clear misunderstanding between the goalkeeper and the wall before the first goal. Bhattacharya looked hapless when the ball banged into the net. He was seen giving some instructions to the players after that goal, probably asking them why they allowed space to Miku before taking that shot.

But overall, credit should be given to Gerson Vieira and John Johnson for their near flawless performance. It’s not easy to keep Chhetri away from scoring. But former Bengaluru-man Johnson and the Brazilian Vieira did just that. Chhetri made some useful runs towards the box, but every time the ball was kept away by ATK defenders.

#4 Miku and Paartalu show their calibre again

Miku scored off a set-piece to level things up in the match [Image: ISL]

Whenever he gets on to the pitch, Miku tries to impress the spectators. With his exceptional skills and a sharp eye for goal, Miku is a threat to all the teams.

Against ATK, the Venezuelan was on his usual best. Miku was denied by the physically strong ATK defenders in the first half. His only impression till the first goal was a bullet header which was somehow punched away by Bhattacharya.

Miku used his second option, the set-piece. And what a free-kick it was! He picked out the tightest angle from the edge of the box. Using his trick with Chhetri, he fooled ATK defenders with a rocket shot which went into the net before the blink of an eyelid.

Paartalu, on the other hand, was the best player of the night for some reason. Without any resistance from the opponents, he roamed inside the park. All the good passes were coming from his feet. He showed the real intent which is needed to play pressing football. He made a total of 98 passes out of which a staggering 81% were correct. The goal was icing on the cake.

#5 Thatal: A promising talent who should be given extra care

Komal

Thatal

scored a fantastic goal against Bengaluru FC [Image: ISL]

Komal Thatal has impressed in the last few games and earned praise from the coach. Everybody in the team knew the moment would come soon but nobody thought it will come against Bengaluru FC.

Thatal got a defence-splitting pass from Everton Santos and made it count with a superb left-footed finish. This was the first ISL goal for the youngster. Also unofficially, he became the youngest scorer in the league’s history with an age of 18 years, 1 month and 13 days. He took another scorcher in the 55th minute which missed the target only by a few centimetres.

Even after the match, people talked about that lethal finish from Thatal. It’s hard to believe that this is the same guy, who was benched in the second match of Under-17 World Cup twelve months ago, despite showing his impressive skills in the opener. He was not selected in the Indian Arrows’ squad for the I-League simply because the then coach Luis Norton de Matos didn’t want him to be a part of the team.

But if you have skills and ability, nobody can stop you. That’s what happened with Thatal when he was picked by ATK. Coppell is so impressed with him that he started featuring the boy regularly in his starting line-up. And finally, the trust paid off.

Now, as a promising youngster, Thatal should be taken care of by the team management. One should regularly look at his work rate and must stop before being burnt-out.