'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The Indian Super League 2018-19 edition kicked off today with two-time champion ATK facing two-time runner-up Kerala Blasters. This season will prove to be a mouthwatering contest as all the teams have had ample time to acclimatise with the Indian football scenario.
The season opener was billed as a high voltage encounter, and it did a certain amount of justice to the tag as two heavyweights of the ISL faced off against each other.
Kerala had never beaten ATK in Kolkata before, and the stakes were high for David James side, and in the end, the Blasters did manage to beat ATK two goals to nil with goals from Matej Poplatnik and Slavisla Stojanovic securing the victory for Kerala Blasters.
On that note, let's take a look at the five talking points from today's game.
#1 Bright Start from Kerala Blasters, ATK look shaky off the blocks
Kerala Blasters had an excellent start to the game as they had three chances to score in the first eight minutes of the game. Kerala had more teeth in attack and looked to play decisive football.
ATK, on the other hand, lacked coordination and had no sort of combination working in the middle of the pitch. The midfielders had a considerable number of miss placed passes.
The ATK attackers failed to break open the Kerala defence, and Balwant Singh was often seen dropping deep to get hold of the ball.
The Kerala wingers did an excellent job in stretching the ATK defence and creating spaces for the strikers and midfielders to exploit.
#2 Kerala's debutants exceed expectations
![Kerala Blasters were well aligned [Image: ISL]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2018/09/94fed-15382430275394-800.jpg)
Kerala had eight players who were playing their first official game for Kerala Blasters, and all of them exceeded expectations. Most people didn't expect Kerala to win the game leave alone win it by a two-goal margin.
Players like Md. Rakip, Sahal Abdul Samad, Seiminlen Doungel, Matej Poplantik, Slavisla Stojanovic and Dheeraj Singh answered their critics in the right way.
Md. Rakip especially did a terrific job in keeping the dangerous Lanzarote quiet for most parts of the game and even forced the ex FC Goa playmaker to shift to a more central position during the game.
#3 Serbian- Slovenian combo help Kerala create history
Kerala Blasters had never defeated ATK in Kolkata, and till the 77th minute of the game it looked like that ATK's hundred percentage record against Kerala Blasters was going to be intact. Then a Slovenian thunder hit ATK out of nowhere as Matej Poplatnik headed home a loose ball which had taken a wicked deflection from a Slavisa shot.
In the 86th minute, Halicharan Narzary picked up Slavisa with a peach-perfect lofted through ball from the half line. The Serbian attacker beat John Johnson all ends up and unleashed a perfect finesse shot from the edge of the box. The shot had a goal written all over it from the time it left Slavisa feet. ATK keeper Arindam could do nothing but to see the ball enter the top left corner of his net.
This was also Kerala Blasters first victory in the iconic VYBK stadium in Salt Lake Kolkata.
#4 ATK midfield lacked creativity, and defence lacked organisation
![ATK will be disappointed [Image: ISL]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2018/09/2d727-15382431798294-800.jpg)
If Steve Coppell is known for something, then it has to be his defensive stability or the way he sets up his side's defence. ATK today though was nowhere near the stability defensively that a Steve Coppell coached side promises. John Johnson and Gerson Vieira had problems in coordination, and there were gaps in the defence right from the word go.
Kolkata started with Pronoy Halder and El Maimouni Noussair in the middle, and both of them lacked the required creative influence to create openings for the strikers. Kolkata also didn't have many opportunities from open play, and their best chances came from set pieces (corners) and long rangers. Jayesh Rane and Lanzarote also failed to create chances down the flanks, and the strikers didn't have any service from the midfield.
#5 Three subs a bit too late for ATK
![ATK could have performed better [Image: ISL]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2018/09/a3147-15382433101063-800.jpg)
ATK were on the back foot for most of the game, and their midfielders and attackers were chasing ghosts for most parts of the game. Balwant and Everton Santos failed to beat the Kerala defence and test Dheeraj. Pronoy and Noussair were failing to produce creative moves from the midfield. It was evident that changes were required, and changes did come, but it turned out to be a tad too late for ATK.
Kalu Uche and Eugeneson Lyngdoh came on in the 75th minute, and Cavin Lobo came on in the 79th. In the final ten-fifteen minutes of the game, ATK did have two good chances to score, but they flew away. Even in defeat, it showed that the trinity of Kalu Uche, Eugeneson Lyngdoh, and Cavin Lobo who undoubtedly are three of the best players in the ATK squad need to start games or else ATK will suffer like they did today.
