Five-run victory for ISL champions highlights their strength; Monday brings disappointment for Gokulam

# Abhinath Thiruvalath

Kozhikode: ISL winners ATK Mohun Bagan showed their strength in the first match of Super Cup Group C. ATK crushed Gokulam Kerala by 5 goals to 1 at their home ground. Listen Collazo scored a brace for ATK. Other scorers for ATK are Hugo Bomas, Manveer Singh and Kian Nassiri. Sergio Mendigutaxia scored Gokulam’s consolation goal.

ATK showed that offense is the best defense throughout the match. ATK’s breakthrough came in the first minute of the game. Gokulam’s defense was scattered in the beginning in front of ATK who brought out the full force of the pressing game.

ATK’s first goal was scored by Liston Collazo in the 6th minute after fierce attacks. Gokulam’s defender Abdul Haku’s mistake resulted in the goal. Gokulam goalkeeper Shibin saved the goal attempt of Hugo Bomas who snatched the ball from Haku. But Liston’s pass from Bomo picked up the ball that went to the left wing and beautifully struck the right corner of the post without giving Shib any chance.

Gokulam got their first chance of the match in the 12th minute. Sergio Mendigutaxia’s header from Subhankar Adhikari’s cross from the right wing went over the bar. The ATK line of Manveer Singh, Hugo Boms, Liston and Carl McHugh played in the midfield with great synergy and it was constantly causing headaches for the Gokulam defence. Meanwhile, in the 24th minute, Gokulam’s Naufal missed a golden opportunity to pull back a goal after a counter attack. Naufal was unable to pass to Sourav who was in the right position.

ATK found their second goal in the 27th minute through Liston himself. Liston caught a long ball from the ATK half and took advantage of the opportunity to see the goalkeeper out of position and hit a long ranger Shib into the net leaving Shib a mere spectator. Despite being two goals ahead, ATK continued to attack. Kian Nassiri’s shot from McHugh’s pass in the 31st minute went inches wide of the bar. ATK scored for the third time with seconds left in the first half. Bomas Gokulam, who took Kian Nassiri’s pass and moved forward, cut through the defenders with ease and sent the ball through Shib’s legs to the net.

In the second half, however, Gokulam woke up again. Although he managed to create a few goalscoring opportunities, his lack of finishing often backfired. In the 54th minute, Sergio Mendy’s shot from Vikas’ pass went wide. Goli was the only one to take the golden opportunity in the 60th minute but Farshad Noor could not capitalize. That effort was saved by Subhasish Bose with a precise intervention. ATK scored their fourth goal in the 63rd minute. Manveer Singh advanced with the ball from the left wing and scored from a pass given by Bomas.

Gokulam’s consolation goal was in the 71st minute. Amino Boba headed in a free kick from Julian Omar and Sergio Mendigutaxia headed another header into the net. ATK also scored their fifth goal in injury time. Gokulam defender Pawan Kumar’s attempt to clear a long ball from the ATK half resulted in the goal. The ball hit by Kumar hit Kian Nassiri, who was with the box, on the head and entered the net.