ISL 2018/19, Kerala Blasters FC 1-1 ATK: 5 Hits and Flops

ATK and Kerala players wrestle for the ball
ATK and Kerala players wrestle for the ball

#3 Hit - Matej Poplatnik

Matej Poplatnik celebrates after the goal (Image Courtesy: ISL)
Matej Poplatnik celebrates after the goal (Image Courtesy: ISL)

Matej Poplatnik was the creative hub for Kerala Blaster FC. The striker did not get involved in the game for first few minutes of the game and decided to drop deep and help out the wingers.

Prasanth Karuthadathkuni and Seminlen Doungel linked up with him exceptionally well to cause some sort of fear to ATK's defence.

Only the linkup play was good between Matej and the wingers. But, the story was the inability of the wingers to cross the ball to find the player inside the penalty box.

The forwards looked isolated inside the box when he was there to contribute towards the final third of the game.

During the first half, Matej Poplatnik generated enormous power to head the ball which was well saved by Arindam Bhattacharya.

He did plenty of running without the ball to help out his teammates. However, his hard work got paid off when his header ricochets off Gerson which found the back of the net to equalize the scoreline.

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