Four second half goals were scored, three of them penalties, as ATK beat Jamshedpur FC 3-1 at the Salt Lake Stadium at Kolkata on Saturday. ATK captain Roy Krishna converted two from the spot while Edu Garcia added a goal in the final minutes as the former champion went top of the Indian Super League (ISL) table.
Krishna-Williams partnership shines
The host's authority in the final third was evident from the opening quarter when David Williams pressurised JFC's goalkeeper Subrata Paul to cough up position just outside the goalpost. Williams' telepathic understanding with Roy Krishna tested the Jamshedpur defence on numerous occasions.
Williams also used his runs to drag the defenders wide which helped Krishna get inside the box unmarked and win two penalties in the second half which tilted the scales in ATK's favour. Krishna's brilliant first-touch and quick decision-making made life easy for his fellow forwards as he capped off a stellar performance with a sublime assist for Edu Garcia's third goal.
Jamshedpur suffers Piti blow
Fransciso Medina Luna, also popularly known as Piti, has been instrumental in Jamshedpur's run at the top this season with calm and collected presence in the midfield. His double dummy left Jayesh Rane in a heap as he whipped a cross that fell perfectly for Farukh Choudhary who was unlucky to see header bounce off the crossbar.
Jamshedpur's attack looked directionless once the Spaniard left the pitch clutching his hamstring as the chances dried up until the toe end of the second half. Though Jamshedpur found its footing in the final minutes of the match, it was too late by then.
Soosai has a ball
ATK's attack was on fire under pouring rain in Kolkata and much of the menace in the first half was caused by Michael Soosairaj. The winger wreaked havoc on the left wing as his mazy runs in the wide areas kept the visitor's defence on the edge.
The 24-year old also went close on both occasions in the 21st and 22nd minutes - the latter being an audacious out-foot shot from a tight angle. The home crowd showed their appreciation for his efforts with a huge round of applause when he was substituted off the pitch in the 80th minute.
Visitor's central defence falters
After keeping a star-studded ATK attack quiet in the opening half, the second half turned out to be nightmare for Jamshedpur's backline. Lacking protection in the middle, Tiri and Memo Moura committed to brash tackles out of desperation which led to two ATK penalties which Roy Krishna cooly slotted home.
Pushing higher up the pitch in the final minutes also did not work for Antonio Iriondo's side as it was susceptible to counter attacks. The trio of Williams, Krishna and Edu Garcia took total advantage of the gaping hole in the central defence to score an easy third goal in the dying minutes of the game.
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