ATK 3 (3) -1 (2) Bengaluru FC: 5 Talking Points & Tactical Analysis as ATK book final berth | ISL 2019-20

ATK scraped past Bengaluru FC 3-1 at the Salt Lake Stadium in the second leg of their ISL semi-final. The victory meant that the Kolkata-based outfit outwitted the Blues 3-2 on aggregate and advanced to the final, which is slated to be held on the 14th of March 2020.

The hosts began the game brightly, although they found themselves a goal down in the 5th minute when Ashique Kuruniyan finished off a flowing counter-attacking move.

However, the home side responded 25 minutes later when Roy Krishna got on the end of Prabir Das’ cross to poke ATK level.

After the restart, David Williams bagged a brace by scoring in the 63rd and 79th minute to establish a one-goal lead on aggregate. Thereafter, BFC threw the kitchen sink at the hosts but the visitors were unable to add to their tally.

Here is a look at the talking points from the encounter.

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#5 ATK and Bengaluru FC produce a thrilling first half

ATK and BFC produced an entertaining first half (Image: ISL)

ATK began the encounter facing a one-goal deficit, meaning that they were forced to do the early running. However, against the run of play, the visitors nudged ahead, thereby setting the platform for a see-saw battle in the opening 45 minutes.

Bengaluru FC started with what seemed a 4-3-3 system, with Nili at left back and Ashique playing on the right flank. Consequently, the Indian was accorded tons of space in the attacking third as he capitalized on Michael Soosairaj’s tendency to not track his runners defensively.

Additionally, as soon as the defending champions went a goal up, they switched to three at the back, with Suresh Wangjam deputizing as the right wing-back.

For a major chunk of the half, the ploy worked as the youngster nullified Soosairaj’s threat, thereby enabling Ashique to wreak havoc on the counter attack.

In reply, ATK started attacking down the other flank with Prabir Das acting as the protagonist of most of their offensive moves. The wing-back combined brilliantly with the likes od David Williams and Krishna and overlapped consistently.

In the process, situations of numerical superiority were created, wherein the Indian then had the time and space to pick out his passes. On one such occasion, the wing-back superbly found Krishna and the Fijian restored parity.

Apart from the tactical battle, there were several openings that were created on the break by the away side as they utilized the pace of Ashique and Deshorn Brown. As for the hosts, they tried to grind down BFC by pinging the ball from side to side, although their best chances came via transition.

Unsurprisingly, the encounter ebbed and flowed magnificently throughout the first half with neither side really laying a claim to have enjoyed the better of the exchanges.

And, rather fittingly, that enthralling period set the tone for an entertaining finish.

#4 ATK’s hitmen produce the goods, yet again

Williams popped up with a brace (Image: ISL)

In the off-season, ATK broke the bank to acquire Krishna and Williams as they hoped to resurrect the club and establish themselves among the higher echelons of the ISL. At the start of the campaign, the pair combined superbly as the Kolkata-based outfit raced clear at the perch of the table.

However, more recently, ATK have had to solely rely upon Krishna, especially after the injuries sustained by Williams. Yet, in perhaps their biggest game of the season, the Australian came up trumps and powered his side past Bengaluru FC.

For a major chunk of the encounter, the pair looked threatening with them often switching roles. At times, the Fijian played on the shoulder of the last defender whereas on other occasions, he drifted deep to allow Williams to run beyond him.

The duo combined exceptionally in the 30th minute when Krishna held the ball up and fed the Australian. The latter then found Prabir on the overlap and the Indian whipped a sensational ball into the Fijian’s path, thereby allowing him to prod home the equalizer.

Post the break, Williams took centre stage as he earned a penalty in the 63rd minute following crafty footwork on the edge of the box. He converted the resulting spot-kick to give ATK the lead on the night, although they still trailed on away goals.

However, as the clock struck the 79th minute, the Australian popped up with only his second goal since Christmas when he arched his neck brilliantly to beat Gurpreet Singh Sandhu from 15 yards.

Thus, over the course of the contest, the pair had again highlighted their significance to ATK. And, though there were a few sceptics who questioned Williams’ lack of recent goals, they were silenced rather emphatically.

#3 Arindam Bhattacharya redeems himself majestically

Arindam redeemed himself brilliantly (Image: ISL)

A week ago, Bengaluru FC got the better of ATK by the barest of slim margins. On that evening, the defending champions triumphed courtesy a defensive blunder with Arindam Bhattacharya’s mistake handing them a crucial first-leg advantage.

Thus, there was palpable criticism regarding the keeper’s form, considering he was also at fault for a couple of goals against Chennaiyin FC, a few days prior. And, that trend seemed to continue when the Indian allowed Ashique’s shot to squirm under him in the first half.

However, he swatted aside those notions in the second period as he produced a string of impressive saves to stave off BFC’s barrage and ensure that his side continued their pursuit of a 3rd ISL crown.

In the 78th minute, Arindam found himself eyeball to eyeball with Kevaughn Frater, who had been released into acres of space by Wangjam. The Jamaican brought the ball down and bore down on goal. At that juncture though, the Indian shot stopper pulled off a vital save to keep Bengaluru at bay.

Minutes later, Arindam portrayed exemplary reflexes to parry John Johnson’s deflected header.

As the referee blew the final whistle, the keeper ended with five saves, three catches and one punch. More importantly though, he had risen to the occasion when it demanded and, in the process, had redeemed himself after being culpable of gifting Bengaluru goals, earlier in the tie.

#2 Prabir Das inspires improbable ATK comeback

Prabir was instrumental in ATK's comeback (Image: ISL)

ATK was dealt a severe blow at the start of the second leg when Bengaluru FC scored in the 5th minute and secured an away goal. Subsequently, it meant that the hosts had to make the net bulge at least thrice while also ensuring that they kept the back door shut.

As things panned out, they did so expertly and none was as influential in the turnaround as Prabir Das.

The wing-back was a bundle of energy throughout the game and caused the visitors all sorts of problems. He overlapped incessantly and provided ATK with an attacking outlet for the entirety of the contest.

Additionally, he diligently fulfilled his defensive duties, even as BFC tried to barge through the hosts’ rear-guard towards the end.

Most pleasingly though, Prabir, for all the hard yards he had put in, was also able to conjure an end product, meaning that ATK’s forwards feasted on it and eventually, put the game beyond Bengaluru’s reach.

In the first half, the wing-back popped up high on the right flank countless times and just as the half-hour mark approached, the Indian laid the ball on a plate for Krishna to smash home the equalizer.

After the restart, the defender kept pushing and probing for an opening and was a constant menace down the wings. And, his endeavours bore fruit in the 79th minute when he tiptoed his way past a couple of challenges and drilled the ball towards Williams, who had stationed himself just inside the box. The Australian did the rest and sent the Salt Lake Stadium into raptures.

Prabir ended the match with 63 touches, 33 passes, 8 crosses and 5 clearances, thereby underlining his importance to the side.

At the start of the season, not many would’ve earmarked the Indian as a potentially decisive tilting scale, especially in clutch clashes. However, as the term has progressed, Prabir has only enhanced his reputation and on Sunday, it reached a crescendo.

#1 Bengaluru’s scoring blues ultimately come back to haunt them

Sunil Chhetri (L) endured another frustrating night (Image: ISL)

In the 2018-19 season, Bengaluru FC established themselves as a relatively free-scoring side and often out-scored teams on their way to the title. However, in the current campaign, they’ve been anything but that and have labored to numerous victories with their defensive solidity ensuring that they made the top four.

On Sunday though, their scoring blues were laid bare for everyone to witness as they failed to trouble ATK and eventually bowed out of the competition.

For large swathes, the visitors lacked ideas and their build-up play seemed lethargic and predictable. More alarmingly, there was also a considerable lack of movement in the final third, meaning that the midfielders were only presented with lateral passing options.

Unsurprisingly, they had to again rely on set-pieces and counter-attacking situations for openings. And, once ATK had eradicated those avenues, the defending champions struggled to impose their identity on the match.

Since their inception in the ISL, BFC have always represented a team that prides itself on the way it preaches an attractive brand of football. However, under Carles Cuadrat, especially in 2019-20, they’ve prioritized calculation over creativity regularly.

And, when push came to shove at the Salt Lake Stadium, the Blues just couldn’t rally their offensive game together to create a substantial imprint, meaning that they crashed out of the tournament.