ISL 2018, Match 37: ATK vs FC Goa, Talking Points
In a match that began on January 3rd and ended on January 4th, ATK and FC Goa shared the spoils after a 1-1 draw in Kolkata. It continued the trend of Goa having never beaten ATK in the history of the Indian Super League.
Both goals came in the first half with the two teams' leading marksmen delivering. Robbie Keane gave his side an early lead only to see Coro cancel out his effort with a strike of his own. The result sees Goa stay in fourth while ATK remain stuck in seventh, well adrift of the leading pack.
Here's what stood out from the game
A late, late kick-off
Let's start with the burning question - should this game have gone ahead?
We kicked off at 10:45 PM, the latest a game has kicked off in the ISL.
Rules mandate that teams are in the stadium at least 90 minutes before kick-off. The situation that caused a delay was something out of Goa's control. Goa arrived at the stadium just about an hour before the eventual kick-off. The looks on the Goa players' faces said it all; they looked none too pleased at being forced to go on so late.
It's winter in India. It was 15 degrees in Kolkata when the match kicked off and one of the teams was not afforded enough time to warm-up; Goa were forced to warm-up in their polo shirts and sneakers. The chances of injury in such conditions is high. Yes, there is the question of all the civic arrangements made for a matchday, but this is definitely going to be a topic of debate with this being the first of a stretch of three games in nine days for Goa.