Defending champions ATK finally got the monkey off their back on Sunday as they edged past Mumbai City FC 1-0 to pick up their first win of the season.
Although coach Teddy Sheringham had played down his side’s winless streak as not a big concern a day earlier, the relief on faces of the ATK players, the ecstatic celebrations, and acknowledging the away fans at the end of the match clearly underlined what the win meant for the Kolkata side.
While a win would have pushed Mumbai into top four, the result now would surely act as a morale booster for Sheringham’s boys who finally managed to claw out of the lowest rung in the table.
Robin Singh who scored the decider in the 54th minute but apart from the finest of touches that didn’t even change the course of the ball, he was hardly responsible for his side earning the lead.
It was Zequinha who played the anchoring role with a fine run after receiving a pass from the centre of the field. He pierced into the opposition box with a terrific individual effort and sliced a pass with the outside of his foot to help it towards Singh whose minimal contact did the rest.
The match had started on an even note, with both sides making darting runs into the other half to draw early blood. However, that soon changed and ATK assumed control to press further up the pitch and unleash a wave of attacks.
{{/usCountry}}The match had started on an even note, with both sides making darting runs into the other half to draw early blood. However, that soon changed and ATK assumed control to press further up the pitch and unleash a wave of attacks.
{{/usCountry}}Zequinha and Prabir Das were exceptional in building up play from the wings but had Robbie Keane and Robin Singh been a bit more clinical, ATK wouldn’t have to live off the nervy moments in the closing stages of the match.
It was ATK’s defence that proved to be the difference between the two sides on Sunday with the back four successfully keeping the Mumbai attack in check, whose forwards are also to be blamed for failing to convert chances.
Another major reason for Kolkata to have been denied a few goals was Amrinder Singh’s fine form under the sticks, with the goalkeeper living up to his mammoth price tag.
While there were many that saved Mumbai’s blushes, his save in the 17th minute to deny Thomas Thorpe’s header from going in really stood out. It was a good day for ATK custodian Debjit Majumder as well with a couple of stellar saves in extra time helping his side pocket all three points.