ATK, FC Goa play out tame draw

With the tournament reaching its halfway mark, ATK sits second in the ISL 2018 table with ATK in the sixth spot.

FC Goa's Jackichand Singh gets control of the ball during the match against ATK.

ATK held visiting FC Goa to a goalless draw in the Indian Super League (ISL) game here at the Salt Lake Stadium on Wednesday. Both sides had a fair share of opportunities but failed to produce the finishing to break the deadlock.

With the tournament reaching its halfway mark, the visitor racked up 17 points from nine games to regain its position in the second spot pushing North East United FC, also on 17 points but from eight matches, to the third spot owing to a better goal difference. ATK remains in the sixth spot with 12 points from nine matches.

As it happened: ATK vs FC Goa

Controlling the initial exchanges, the Gaurs had a good opportunity in the 13th minute when Mourtada Fall had a clear shot at the ATK goal after connecting with Ahmed Jahouh's diagonal cross from the right. But the towering Senegalese defender failed to keep his header on target.

 

ATK's attack came alive around the half hour mark with its Brazilian forward Everton Santos getting two good opportunities in the 27th and the 29th minutes. The first chance missed the mark while the second was saved the Goa goalkeeper Mohammad Nawaz.

The best chance for ATK came in the 36th minute when Santos chipped a loose ball for Gerson Vieira inside the box. The Brazilian chested it down for Manuel Lanzarote, who saw his shot go wide.

Goa star Ferran Corominas' only good opportunity came in the 41st minute when Brandon Fernandes' through-pass found the former unmarked inside the ATK box, but his feeble effort was easily gathered by ATK custodian Arindam Bhattacharya.

ATK keeper Arindam Bhattacharya jumps under pressure to gather the ball under pressure.

 

The visitor had a genuine call for a penalty turned down by the referee in the 66th minute when substitute Manvir Singh saw his effort hit the hand of the ATK defender Andre Bike. The referee turned down calls for a penalty despite protests from the Goa players.

ATK had a clear chance in the 89th minute when Lanzarote set a looping cross inside the Goa box just to see Mourtada Fall making good use of his height to nod the ball out from the line.

 

The result: ATK 0 - 0 FC Goa