ISL 2016 | Javier Lara goal seals first win for Atletico de Kolkata
A second-half goal from Javier Lara gave Atletico de Kolkata their first win of ISL 2016 in the away match against Kerala Blasters. While Atletico would be happy with the win after a disappointing draw earlier, Kerala have a big job on their hands if they are to better their finish last season.
Kerala Blasters XI: Graham Stack(GK), Pratik Chaudhari, Cedric Hengbart(C), Sandesh Jhingan, Mehtab Hossain, Elhadji
The match was a replay of the first ISL final that Atletico ended up winning thanks to a Mohammed Rafique goal in the dying minutes of the game, and it was Atletico that made the better start to the game with a chance created by former Blasters’ hero Iain Hume as early as the 4th minute. Sameehg Doutie played in Hume in space on the right flank, and the latter was able to cross the ball in for Portuguese striker Helder Postiga, but good pressure from Pratik Chaudhari meant that the former Valencia man’s rushed shot went over the bar.
Kerala struggled with Atletico’s high pressing game and constantly found themselves without the ball at their feet. Against the run of play, Chaudhari found Rafique on the wing with a beautiful back-heel, but the former Atletico player’s cross ended up well behind everyone else.
Kolkata
The Kolkata team were forced into an early change as Postiga was replaced by Belencoso after the former indicated to the bench that he would not be able to continue. The Spaniard made his presence felt immediately as he bullied Jhinghan off the ball to put in a wonderful ball for Hume, who for once had a lapse of concentration, and the chance was wasted. A minute later, the referee waved off a penalty for the Kolkata side when it looked like the striker had a case for a spot-kick.
Kerala, however, showed some signs of life midway through the first half as both German and Rafique came close to giving the Blasters the lead with shots from distance missing the
As the managers were delivering their half-time team-talk, the crowd were treated to a glimpse of Kerala Blasters’ owner and cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, who was invited for an interview. The passionate crowd, however, made sure that no one heard a single
German came out for the second half with a spring in his step as he took on four defenders with his quick feet, but a heavy touch just as he entered the 18-yard-box meant the chance was lost and as he went down 60,000 were disappointed when the official waved the play to continue.
Atletico’s relentless pressure is rewarded
In the very next minute, Atletico had the best chance of the match when an inch-perfect ball by
Atletico’s continuous pressure was finally rewarded when Javi Lara decided to have a crack from 20 odd yards, and his shot took a deflection off the inside of Sandesh Jhingan’s leg, leaving Stack for dead.
Five minutes later, Lara tried his luck from distance again, but the ball was easily parried away by the crowd. Former Reading manager Steve Coppell made an unusual substitution taking off goalkeeper Stack and sending on Indian shot-stopper Sandip Nandy.
Even the introduction of Michael Chopra was of no consequence as Atletico just kept rotating the ball forcing Kerala to do a lot of running in hot and humid conditions.