ISL: Atletico de Kolkata get past NorthEast United 1-0 thanks to Luis Garcia's goal
Atletico de Kolkata overcame Northeast United in their Indian Super League fixture thanks to a Luis Garcia goal early in the second half. The last time the two sides met it ended in a 2-0 win for Atletico de Kolkata in Guwahati. Atletico de Kolkata started the game as league leaders, while NorthEast United were on the sixth position in the Indian Super League points table. Both the sides started with just one win from their last five games.
Lively start to the game
Atletico de Kolkata had the first real chance of the game as Borja Fernandez started a brilliant move and Fikru played the ball to Luis Garcia, but the skipper couldn’t make proper contact and missed the shot completely. The away team soon replied with a move from the right when Khongjee directed a dangerous cross into the Atletico box and Arnab Mondal almost put it into his own net.
Luis Garcia has been instrumental for the Kolkata outfit throughout the tournament. He showed it again when he played a sublime cross to Lester Fernandez, but NorthEast goalkeeper Rehenesh came out to collect the ball. Rehenesh also received the first yellow card of the game, after he brought down Fikru just outside the box. United’s midfielder Alen soon fancied a shot from long range, but he didn’t do enough to test the Atletico de Kolkata goalkeeper Subhasish.
Soon, Garcia got the ball after a mistake from the opposition defense and he chipped the ball from long range, but his attempt went over the crossbar. Lester Fernandez, who started on the right for Atletico de Kolkata, looked quite impressive in the early parts of the game.
A defensive error inside the box allowed Luis Garcia to take a shot, but the shot was blocked by Capdevilla, which allowed Garcia to have another attempt, but this time the shot from him was off-target. The first half ended goalless with both the sides failing to create a single clear-cut goal scoring opportunity.
Luis Garcia delivers again
The home team started the second half with two consective efforts on goal from Fikru and Luis Garcia. They then took the lead from a Luis Garcia header in the 51st minute. Jofre put in a sublime cross inside the penalty box and the former Liverpool man made no mistake in converting it with a powerful downward header. NorthEast United tried to get back through Durga Boro, but his shot was well off-target. Immediately after this, Khongjee got a yellow card after he blocked Fikru who was running down the left wing.
Interestingly, Luis Garcia was playing like a second striker in the second half of the game. Atletico de Kolkata looked to slow down the tempo after continuous attacks from NorthEast United FC. The away team made the first change of the game in the 69th minute as they replaced Felipe with Tomas Josl and soon Durga Boro was replaced by Seimeinlen Doungel.
Atletico de Kolkata replaced Jofre with another Spaniard Arnal. They looked in control for most of the second half. Soon, Fikru hit the post after a brilliant counter attack. A superb free flowing move started by Lester Fernandez resulted in a chance for the striker, but he hit the post. Atletico made another change as Ofentse Nato was replaced by Indian midfielder Rakesh Masih. Although NorthEast United created a few half chances towards the end of the game, they failed to find the back of the net.
Atletico de Kolkata remain at the top of the table with16 points from 9 games as they would have been relieved to clinch only their second win in six home games.