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ATK hosted NorthEast United FC for their second game in the Indian Super League 2018-19 season. NorthEast United and ATK finished at the bottom of the table last season and both the teams will be looking to get their season up and running as soon as possible.
ATK got off their season to the worst possible start as they succumbed to a two-goal defeat against Kerala Blasters. NorthEast United FC, on the other hand, came into the game after having played out a two-two draw against FC Goa.
NorthEast United FC started the game on a bright note, and ATK were under pressure right from the word go and eventually saw their left back Sena Ralte being sent off for a second yellow midway through the first half. The scored board read nil-nil at halftime with ATK being reduced to ten men.
NorthEast United applied more pressure in the second half as ATK kept defending deep. NorthEast United FC finally broke ATK's rock solid defence in the 88th minute via a Rowllin Borges header from a Gallego corner. NorthEast United FC managed to defeat ATK one goal to nil.
On that note, let's take a look at the five talking points from today's game.
#5 Rehenesh lucky to play more than five minutes?
TP Rehenesh has a history of committing unwanted fouls and losing his cool at crucial stages, and NorthEast United has more experience of this trait of Rehenesh more than any other team.
It was the fourth minute of the game, and ATK had won a corner which Maimouni Noussair had taken.
Joseph Leudo headed the ball away, and the game went on. What everyone saw was Gerson Viera lying on the ground holding his head.
What everyone missed was Rehenesh deliberately punching Gerson in a tussle off the ball. Had VAR been there it would have been a clear penalty for ATK and a sending off for Rehenesh.
The rules of the game state that any player who deliberately hits another player in a tussle of the ball merits a red card especially if the offence includes a direct blow to the head or neck.
The referee completely missed the incident like most of the players, but the linesman should have picked up the incident.
The decision had a significant impact on the game given ATK were reduced to ten men a few minutes later.
#4 ATK missue their best players for a second game running
Kalu Uche was probably the leagues third best striker best season behind Coro and Miku. He did have the best strike rate though among all the strikers, and yet he can't find himself a spot in the starting XI in this ATK side.
He is the best striker ATK have in their squad, and in the two games that ATK have played so far, he has only made brief cameo appearances so far.
Cavin Lobo and Eugenson Lyngdoh are players who can walk into any Indian teams playing XI on merit and yet they have found themselves on the bench yet again for ATK. ATK lacked creativity in the middle of the park, and both Lobo and Lyngdoh are precisely the types of players who can work that magic for a team from the centre.
Had the likes of Lobo, Lyngdoh and Uche started for ATK then things could have been different for the team from the city of joy.
#3 ATK nearly pull off a Steve Coppell masterclass
It was the 32nd minute of the game, and Sena Ralte received his marching orders from the referee after seeing his second yellow of the game.
ATK was down to ten men, and it wasn't even halftime. Steve Coppell made a change by bringing in Ricky the left back in place of Jayesh Rane which showcased his intentions of not losing the game.
From then on began a long spell of deep defending which saw ATK shut down shop and defend deep. The defenders John Johnson and Gerson Viera were superb throughout the game.
NorthEast United FC had 11 shots at goal, but only one on target and that speaks volumes of the way ATK defended deep and forced NEUFC to take those long rangers.
ATK despite being down to ten men had a couple of chances on their own, and they managed to keep three shots on target which is more than what NEUFC managed.
After being forced to play with ten men, ATK was on the cusp of playing a Steve Coppell masterclass of deep defending and seeing out a game with a point, but it wasn't their night as NorthEast United broke the deadlock in the 89th minute from a corner.
#2 Rowllin Borges a different man for Northeast United FC in each half
It started on their opening day against FC Goa, Rowllin was being entirely overrun by Ahmed Jahouh and Hugo Boumas. He was shifted to a more advanced role in the second half, and that worked wonders for both the team and the player.
Today also something similar happened Rowllin had a shaky start with the Goa-born midfielder making a string of miss passes.
He was also guilty of giving up possession a lot during the game, and it looked like he had lost his form again after the Goa game. Mysteriously again in the second half, Rowllin looked like a different player altogether.
He was holding the ball better, and his distribution improved a lot compared to the first half. After Putia came on late in the second half, Borges looked more agile as there Mizo midfielder complimented Rowllin very well by covering the spaces properly.
Rowllin also had a good combination with Gallego and Redeem in the second half, and the goal was proof of the blend the trio had. Rowllin outsmarted his marked El Maimouni to head home a perfectly placed Gallego corner.
#1 NorthEast United sit top of the table but have lots of work to do to secure the position
NorthEast United and top of the table is like an anomaly; something doesn't feel right when both these are associated together and yet as of today, and for most parts of tomorrow Northeast United sit top of the ISL table.
A lot of people will state that given the way NorthEast United FC has played in the two games so far they deserve to be where they are, and there is no denying that have had a start better than what people expected from them.
What needs to be taken into account though is the loopholes that have been highlighted by Goa and ATK during these two games.
First and foremost, NorthEast United FC needs to sort out their goalkeeping issues, Rehenesh might have managed to keep a clean sheet today, but he was far from stable tonight.
There were at least two occasions when he fumbled the ball during corners and a couple of instants when his outings were questionable. His distribution to has been below par this season.
The Highlanders have struggled with their left backs this season Keegan was poor during Goa, and Robert was far from impressive today, add to that both the left backs have picked up injuries which is a matter of concern for Eelco Schattorie.
Rowllin Borges may be a hero tonight, but a more in-depth inspection of his game will reveal that the Goa-born midfielder has been way below par in his midfield duties till now. His combination with Leudo is also something that has been left wanting.
Lastly, it has become evident that Gallego orchestrates all of the creative play that NorthEast United FC try playing and there is no backup for the Uruguayan midfielder.
