Chennai: West or south, home or away, Atletico de Kolkata know how to win. The defending champions of the Indian Super League spoiled hosts Chennaiyin FC’s party with a 3-2 win in the opening match of season two here on Saturday. In the first match of the inaugural season last year, Kolkata had thumped Mumbai 3-0 at home. The scene was different but in the end the scenario was the same for ATK.
Atletico de Kolkata players celebrate after winning the opening match. (Photos: PTI)
Helder Postiga of Portugal struck a blow for marquee players after the much-hyped breed had failed spectacularly in season one. The well-travelled forward, who played in the 2014 World Cup, struck an opportunistic brace to punish diabolical errors from Chennaiyin’s defence.
A mischievous white mongrel misunderstood that the all the gala was for its foray into the pitch as it held up play for more than a minute right after the kick-off. Whippet-quick, the four-legged star ran across the field even as the amused spectators raised a toast to its gall and enterprise. “Penalty” roared the crowd when the Animal of Match approached the white spot in the Kolkata box. Alas, there was no ATK defender in the vicinity to trip the canine intruder.
Laugher gave way to consternation soon. Kolkata silenced the boisterous home crowd in the 13th minute when Postiga slotted the ball home from three yards after Chennaiyin’s Cameroonian goalkeeper Edel Bete had spilled Borja Fernandez’s free-kick from the right.
In the age of communication revolution, Bete failed to tell his teammate Mailson Alves that it was his ball. The resultant collision between the two proved fatal. (Photo: ISL)
That Bete’s outstanding show between the posts was the cornerstone of Kolkata’s triumph last season must have been a painful memory for Chennaiyin’s supporters. A change of clubs also meant change of fortunes for the towering custodian, even though these are early days to deliver a verdict.
Brazilian magician Elano, last season’s top scorer, hauled Chennaiyin back into the match with a delightful 35-yard pass for Fikru Teferra. The Ethiopian forward, who had missed a sharp chance earlier with a wasteful shot, did well to connect the sumptuous assist with his head but Kolkata goalie Amrinder Singh blocked the ball with his body only for the onrushing Jeje Lalpekhlua to sweep it into an empty net.
The pace of the season opener, played under draining humidity, was pedestrian in the entire first half as both teams struggled for fluency. The marvellous pass of Elano, Chennaiyin’s captain for the season, was the saving grace of the humdrum opening 45 minutes.
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Kolkata were surely the superior side after the break, even though they had to wait until the 70th minute to reclaim the lead. Second-half substitute Bernard Mendy committed a blunder with an inexplicable back header from outside the box. Postiga intercepted the gift and fired the ball home between the legs of Bete. Having done his job, the Portuguese went off injured.
A few minutes later the goal of the match arrived. A superb left-wing cross from Iain Hume hung in the air and Spaniard Valmiro Rocha arrived on cue to head it in. Rocha did the man he had replaced, Postiga, proud. ATK’s Javier Granda saw a penalty, awarded for a Mendy handball, saved before Elano scored from the spot in the dying minutes for the home fans to take something home.
