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ATK overcame NorthEast United FC 1-0 at the Yuva Bharati Krirangan Stadium on Monday in their Indian Super League clash thanks to super-sub Balwant Singh's last-minute header. The tie took the Kolkata side to the top of the table, level on points with FC Goa, but ahead of them courtesy of their better head-to-head record.
Mandi Sosa Pena found himself out of the playing squad as he had to serve a one-match suspension owing to accumulating four yellow cards this season. Edu Garcia made his return to the starting line-up.
ATK's head coach Antonio Lopez Habas was also missing from the bench as he was serving his two-match suspension after he inserted himself in a scuffle with Kerala Blasters coach Eelco Schattorie.
NorthEast United FC, on the other hand, made as many three changes to the beleaguered starting line-up that lost 2-0 to Chennaiyin FC. Milan Singh, Redeem Tlang, and Federico Gallego got themselves ousted from the playing XI with new-recruit Simon Lundevall, Ninthoinganba Meetei, and Nikhil Kadam replacing them.
#5 ATK's 3-4-2-1 vs NorthEast United FC's 4-3-3 make a highly entertaining affair
ATK continued fielding themselves by deploying three defenders in the back - Pritam Kotal, Agustin Iniguez Garcia, and Sumit Rathi. Victor Mongil and Javi Hernandez formed the block ahead of them with Prabir Das and Michael Soosairaj attacking and defending through the right and left flank respectively.
Edu Garcia and Jobby Justin were deployed as the second strikers helping the team's centre-forward Roy Krishna to find goals.
NorthEast United FC's back-four comprised of centre-backs Kai Heerings and Mislav Komorski with Reagan Singh and Rakesh Pradhan guarding the flanks. Ni
The midfield three comprised of Lalengmawia, Nikhil Kadam, and Ninthoinganba Meetei aiding the front three of Simon Lundevall, Andy Keogh, and Martin Chaves.
The contrasting formations of both the teams ensured the contest was an end-to-end affair uninterruptedly. ATK mainly found the ball through the wings and utilized it to full extent whereas NorthEast United FC saw more of the ball in the centre.
There were numerous occasions where either side could have taken the lead but brave goalkeeping from both sets of goalkeepers, ATK's Arindam Bhattacharja and NorthEast United FC's Subhasish Roy Chowdhury, ensured the deadlock was broken only deep into extra-time.
#4 ATK divert their attack through right flank in the first half and left in the second
Playing with three in the back, ATK knew they were going to find it tough to break NorthEast United FC in the centre. Hence, they took the wider route and created plenty of glorious opportunities.
Prabir Das made it very clear in the fourth minute of the game when he sent two crosses successively. Three minutes later, he combined well with Jobby Justin to send another curling delivery but it neither of efforts proved to be of much use.
The best chance came in the eleventh minute when Prabir Das' curled effort almost allowed Roy Krishna to have a tap-in but Mislav Komorski made a last-ditch tackle to ensure otherwise. Prabir ended up making 5 crosses and taking one shot in the game.
However, his activity was limited in the second half. Rather, it was Michael Soosairaj and Edu Garcia which looked more threatening. The latter threaded a through ball for the former and the Tamil Nadu native almost opened the scoresheet with his tamed effort. But, he was denied by Mislav Komorski's goal-line clearance.
Soosairaj ended up taking 3 shots, lodging 4 crosses, and creating one chance. Garcia, too, wreaked havoc in the second half as enlisted in his 4 chances created and 3 shots taken.
#3 NorthEast United FC have a free stroll in the ATK midfield
NorthEast United FC wanted to exploit the centre of the pitch and restricted their full-backs not to overlap so as to guard ATK's wing-backs. Despite playing with three midfielders, the Highlanders maintained the control as ATK's defensive midfielder Victor Mongil was highly unimpressive.
Nikhil Kadam and Ninthoingamba Meitei drifted to wider areas, allowing Martin Chaves and Simon Lundevall to cut in. Andy Keogh played centrally and aided others in the build-up.
Federico Gallego replaced Lundevall in the second half as the latter had very little influence in the game. Redeem Tlang came on for Ninthoingamba Meetei in a like-for-like replacement.
Andy Keogh almost gave the visitors the lead from a counter-attack but Pritam Kotal made a timely block in the 13th minute of the game. The Irishman flicked his ball brilliantly in the near post but Arindam came up with a superb save to deny him.
But, the best chance fell to Martin Chaves in the last minute of the first half when he towered above his marker to flick his header after connecting Ninthoingamba's cross. However, Arindam stood between him and the goal to palm away the danger.
NorthEast United FC continued creating chances but were always left wanting more. And, when Michael Regin replaced Victor Mongil to make his ISL debut, their intensity dropped by a notch.
#2 Roy Krishna missing his scoring boot in the absence of David Williams
After averaging at just below one goal per match, ATK's Roy Krishna has lost his scoring boot as he has fired blanks in each of the last five encounters. The Fijian has been reduced to the job of a creator in the absence of his Aussie counterpart.
Against NorthEast United FC, Krishna took 4 shots and created 2 chances. His best moment came in the 40th minute when after collecting a through ball from Edu Garcia, he tried to slot the ball in the far post but got denied.
Krishna isn't enjoying the same form of telepathic communication he used to have with Williams with Jobby Justin or Edu Garcia. He is also playing slightly deep as compared to his target man role which he used to don earlier.
In the absence of his firepower, goals have come from Pronay Halder, Michael Soosairaj, Pritam Kotal, Jobby Justin, and on Monday, Balwant Singh. With Williams inching to recovery quickly, Krishna too should find his scoring boots once again.
#1 ATK looks set to finish at the top
There is a huge incentive for the club to finish at the top of the ISL points table this season as the honour of becoming the first club from India to participate at the AFC Champions League beckons for them. And, with a comparatively easier run of matches, ATK might bag that prize.
The Kolkata side has done a double over FC Goa and should finish ahead of the Gaurs if both the sides end the competition level on points. With encounters against a beleaguered Jamshedpur FC, Odisha FC sans Aridane Santana, and a home game against Chennaiyin FC lined-up, ATK can bag all the nine points from their next three games.
FC Goa, too, has similar sets of fixtures with trips to Odisha and Jamshedpur alongside home encounters with Hyderabad FC and Mumbai City FC. Bengaluru FC has a slightly tougher run-in with two AFC Cup Qualifiers encounters sandwiched between their clashes against Hyderabad FC, Chennaiyin FC, and Kerala Blasters.
The clash between Bengaluru FC and ATK could decide who finishes on top.
