Atletico de Kolkata 2-1 Kerala Blasters: Five Talking Points
Captains Borja Fernandez and Peter RamageThe Hero Indian Super League returned to the Salt Lake stadium, Kolkata – the home of the champions – with a match that saw Atlético de Kolkata edge Kerala Blasters 2-1.The game that was tipped by many as a revenge match of sorts for last season’s runner-up Kerala was won for Kolkata by goals from Arata Izumi and Javi Lara. English striker Chris Dagnall scored the only goal for the Blasters and managed to liven up the last 10 minutes of the match but eventually Atlético emerged winners. Here are the talking points from the match.
#1 Kerala Blasters\' spirited fightback
Kerala Blasters, who possessed immense talent in attack, had to wait until the 80th minute to induce some life into the game.
The game was looking destined to end in another goalless 90 minutes for Kerala Blasters, who did not threaten Atlético for large parts of the match. But a teasing ball in from Peter Ramage was met with the head onto the keeper by Vineeth, and being the goal poacher that he is, Chris Dagnall followed it up to rally home, what was to be a consolation goal for the Blasters.
Kerala Blasters’ coach Peter Taylor will want his players to seek motivation from the team’s short lived fight back at the final moments, when he prepares his team to face Delhi Dynamos at Kochi in five days time.