FULL-TIME: ATK 2-2 MUMBAI CITY FC
90+6' ATK EQUALISES! There is added time for the added time and Roy Krishna makes it count. He latches on to a headed deflection from Sarthak and beats Arminder to pull his team level. What a game this has been!
90+4' Roy Krishna lurks around the far post, as he brings down a cross inside the box but has no support form his teammates as he punches the ground in frustration.
90+3' GOAL MUMBAI! That should be the winner. Substitution Bipin Singh, gets into the box from the left and squares it off for Serge Kevyn who finishes from point-blank range.
90+2' Mumbai tries to run down the clock as Jorge Costa replaces Serge Kevyn Reynier Fernandez for Larbi.
90' Amrinder seems to have an issue with his right knee as it further puts the play on pause. However, the Mumbai shot-stopper gets back up as we have five minutes of added time.
88' Subashish cuts out a Williams' pass which sends Balwant on his way on the right. Serge Kevyn brings down Anas recklessly as the referee brandishes his yellow card at the Mumbai striker.
86' Almost an own goal! Subhasish heads a ball back to Pratik who doesn't look at Amrinder who is off his line. Fortunately for Mumbai, it is corner as the ball rolls out of play.
84' Prabir Das dispossesses Sougou in the middle and hits a diagonal ball trying to find Roy Krishna in the box. However, it is straight at Pratik who heads it away to safety.
82' Sougou runs into the box from the right and pulls the trigger. However, his shot lacked direction and the Arindam lets it fly away over the crossbar.
79' Anas blocks Machado's run with the ball as both players go down on the pitch writhing in pain. The referee, finally, takes out his yellow card and books the ATK centre-back.
77' Mumbai has managed into ATK players' heads. Rowlin Borges brings down Edu Garcia in the middle as Prabir Das shoves away the midfielder as he demands the referee for a yellow card. Roy Krishna calms down his younger teammate.
75' WIDE! Machado, once again, whips a dangerous ball into the box as Serge Kevyn has a gaping goal infront of him but however manages to head it over the crossover.
74' Sauvik deliberately hacks down Soosairaj on the left and referee remains coy as ever. Amrinder comes out his box to have a word with referee as David Williams tries to diffuse the situation.
71' Arindam goes after Sougou after the forward stands in the ATK custodian's way after a Mumbai corner is wasted. Arindam drops the ball in the way as Chermiti has a go at Arindam. Still the referee does not think there is need to book anyone.
69' Sarthak wins a tussle with Edu Garcia on the right as the forward, furious that a foul was not give, resorts to tying his shoelace for a good 60 seconds.
67' Sarthak gives away a free kick on the right as Prabir Das swings in a pin-point cross for Roy Krishna who is unmarked at the far post. However, the ATK skipper fluffs his header despite having all the time in the world to put it past the keeper.
64' MISS! Machado cuts in from the right and squares off a brilliant pass for Angoue, whose shot goes agonisingly wide off the near post.
62' GOAL MUMBAI! Pratik pulls things level for the visitor with a thumping header at the far post. The centre-back leaps to perfection to meet a corner and finishes at the far corner.
60' Close! Prabir Das curls a cross at the far post as David Williams brings down the ball superbly and plays it to Javi who hits a outfoot pass to Roy Krishna. The ATK captain has a go at the near post, but drags his shot wide.
58' Carl McHugh with some retribution as he jumps on to Chermiti's shoulder from behind. However, the midfielder lands awkwardly on his left and twists his ankle. The players are involved in a scuffle as McHugh is subbed off for Agustin Iniguez.
56' Another foul from Mumbai as Sarthak attacks the ball from behind Roy Krishna and catches him in the thigh. The referee, however, remains unmoved.
53' Once again a cynical foul from Mumbai City. Roy Krishna is stopped in his tracks after Sauvik catches him on his shin. Habas and his staff rush out of the dug out to demand a booking as the referee warns the ATK bench to keep their calm.
51' WIDE! Edu Garcia whips in a cross into the box as Roy Krishna lays the ball for Prabis Das who slides in but only manages to kick the ball into the stands.
49' Diego Carlos pulls aside in what seems to be a groin stretch and signals to the bench. The midfielder is subbed off for Angoue in the middle.
47' Sougou fouls Soosairaj near the half line and Habas is furious on the touchline. It is strange that there has been only one yellow card so far despite the numerous fouls from the men in blue.
46' Second half begins.
HALF-TIME: ATK 1-0 MUMBAI CITY FC
45+3' Carlos' lays the ball in the path of Sougou inside the box, but Arindam makes a good save to collect the ball.
45+2' Edu Garcia battle for the ball with Machado who goes for a cynical challenge from behind. However, the referee says play on. Soosairaj gets hold of the ball on the right tries to take on the Mumbai defence all by himself. Sauvik gets a clean challenge to take the ball off the wing-back's feet.
45' Superb defending by Subhasish. Prabir Das goes on a solo run on the right and fizzes past Subhasish on two occasions. The Indian full back keeps up the chase and dispossesses Prabir.
42' Soosairaj makes another brilliant run into the box as he squares off a pass to David Williams, who was lurking at the near post. It takes a last-ditch challenge from Sarthak to clear the danger.
38' GOAL ATK! Soosairaj puts the host 1-0 up. Edu Garcia weighs in his through ball to perfection as Soosairaj takes it on the run and smashes it past Amrinder. The Salt Lake Stadium is rocking.
37' Rowlin catches David Williams unaware with an elbow in the back as the referee calls the midfielder to give him a final warning.
34' CHANCE! Paulo Machado dissects the ATK defence with a throughball as Diego Carlos lays the ball for Sougou, who could have had a better chance at the goal had he stopped a step behind. Anas is quickly on to the ball and kicks the ball away.
33' Garcia is back on his legs with a forehead heavily bandaged. Prabir Das tries to find Roy Krishna in the centre but Pratik clears the danger.
29' A flowing passing move from Mumbai City is foiled by Rowlin Borges and Sougou getting in each other's way on the right. Rowlin goes into the referee book after he catches Edu Garcia on the forehead with a flying challenge.
27' David Williams gets a shot from distance and manages to send Amrinder scampering to his right. However, the ball misses the post by few inches.
24' Pratik messes up a straight ball from Soosairaj as Sarthak comes to his rescue to clear the ball. Paulo Machado makes space on the left side and puts Chermiti through, but Arindam rushes off his line to avert the danger.
22' Rowlin Borges catches Carl McHugh on the face with a high-boot challenge. David Williams demands the referee to fish out his yellow card but Rahul Kumar Gupta tells the ATK striker to calm down. Mumbai has managed to get into ATK players' heads.
20' SHOT! David Williams squares off a pass to Soosairaj who pokes it into the path of Roy Krishna who takes a shot at the goal. Sauvik manages to stick a leg out to deflect the ball away from the post.
15' Mumbai has been positive in its approach today. The visitor has used the width perfectly as Chermiti and Sougou have the assistance from the overlapping fullbacks to provide Diego Carlos with the ball in the centre.
13' Edu Garcia lobs a ball over the Mumbai defence but Sarthak and Parthik close down Roy Krishna before the striker makes the run. Subhasish certainly broke an ankle there, as he leaves his opposite number Prabis Das in a heap with his skills.
11' Chermiti goes down on the left flank after coming under a challenge by Anas. Paulo Machado whips in a good ball but it's straight into the ATK wall. Sauvik lunges for the ball and clatters studs on into Michael Soosairaj on the right but no real harm done. These are close calls which could decide the game.
8' Sauvik Chakrabarti scythes at David Williams' legs after going in for a late challenge. The ATK striker seems to be in pain but the referee Rahul Kumar Gupta lets Savik go with a warning.
6' Mumbai City has started the game well as its counter-press of ATK's midfield is helping forwards Diego Carlos, Modou Sougou and Amine Chermiti to get the ball in dangerous positions. Carlos latches on to a loose ball outside the box and pulls the trigger but there is no real threat from it.
4' Close! Diego Carlos' low cross takes a deflection inside the box as Arindam spills the ball but Sougou is unable to reach it as Anas clears the danger in the nick of time.
2' Prabir Das tries to take on Subhasish Bose, but the Mumbai left back comes out on top. ATK goes back to building from the back. Anas is flagged for a foul on Modou Sougou.
1' Here we go! ATK begins the proceedings from right to left. Diego Carlos mops up a loose ball in the midfield after Edu Garcia gives away the ball cheaply.
* Players are out on the pitch for the national anthem. Just few more minutes to kick-off.
What's at stake?
ATK is at the top of the ISL table ahead of defending champion Bengaluru FC on goal difference despite playing a game less. Antonio Habas' men could be three points ahead of the holder if it manages a win today.
Mumbai City FC, which is seventh in the table with five points from five matches, could move to sixth above Odisha FC if it manages to beat an in-form ATK. A draw would not have an effect on its standing as Odisha has a superior goal difference of 0 to Mumbai City's -3.
Playing XIs
Our correspondent Amitabha Das Sharma previews Saturday's fixture:
ATK will be looking to continue its good form at home when it takes on Mumbai City FC at the Salt Lake Stadium in fixture on Saturday. Having won its previous two outings at home convincingly - 5-0 against Hyderabad FC and 3-1 against Jamshedpur FC – ATK’s performance graph has been quite impressive since the return of Antonio Lopez as the head coach this season.
The host currently sits on top of the standings with 10 points from five matches and would be looking to consolidate its position by picking up the maximum points in its third outing at home. Starting with a loss against Kerala blasters, ATK rebounded with three wins (two at home and one ‘away’) before being held to a 0-0 draw by Odisha FC in its last assignment.
The two-time champion has been able to find the right balance of attack and defence with the combination of Roy Krishna and David Williams fetching the rewards upfront. ATK has found the target 10 times so far and has conceded just three goals so far. The team has been able to find the resilience in the defence too with a three-man backline combining well with the two wing-backs in Michael Soosairaj and Prabir Das.
“We are trying to find the intensity and pace. We cannot win every match. But we have not lost in the last four matches,” Antonio Lopez said.
For Mumbai City FC, the journey has not been smooth so far and the team finds itself in the seventh in the table after five matches. It is coming off a well-fought 2-2 draw against NorthEast United FC at Guwahati and will be eyeing three points on Saturday, after failing to win a match since the season opener against Kerala Blasters. With the City Football Group buying up majority stakes in the club, the new development is expected to boost up the team’s morale.
The Tunisian striker Amine Chermiti has shown good form and has made up for Modou Sougou’s struggle with fitness. “We are making some mistakes that we will try to fix. As a team, we are doing well but some individual mistakes are costing us the game. But we have got time to fix this and hopefully, we will finish where we want to finish,” said head coach Jorge Costa.
The match will be live on Star Sports network and streaming on Hotstar, kick-off at 7.30 pm (IST).
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