ATK Mohun Bagan were left searching to break their recent poor form as they had to settle for a 1-1 draw against Chennaiyin FC.
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ATK Mohun Bagan were left searching to break their recent poor form as they had to settle for a 1-1 draw against Chennaiyin FC in the 2021-22 Hero Indian Super League at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Fatorda on Saturday. Liston Colaco’s 18th-minute strike was cancelled by Vladimir Koman (45′) right before halftime. Chennaiyin are yet to face defeat as they go third on the table with 8 points. The Mariners continue to be outside the top four with 7 points. After creating a few chances in the opening moments, ATK Mohun Bagan finally got the breakthrough in the 18th minute. Liston Colaco banged home albeit after the ball kissed the bar as Roy Krishna played a brilliant through ball to open the scoring.
Earlier in the 16th minute, Ashutosh Mehta showed excellent skill and tried to create a chance from the right flank. CFC defenders intercepted the attack before he could hand the ball over to Manvir Singh. ATKMB’s Tiri got a yellow card in the 22nd minute. Tiri was booked by the referee for a harsh tackle on Edwin Vanspaul. Similarly, in the 25th minute, Reagan Singh of Chennaiyin was cautioned for a mistimed tackle on Roy. Chennaiyin FC grew into the game with captain Anirudh Thapa and Lallianzuala Chhangte at the center of the attacks around the half-hour mark but they could not do any damage to ATKMB.
In the 41st minute, CFC got a corner which could have been a goal but ATKMB goalkeeper Amrinder Singh was on point. However, in the 45th minute, Vladimir Koman gave Amrinder no chance and equalised. Polish striker Lukasz assisted Koman from a throw-in which caught the Bagan defence off-guard. Post the break, Hugo Boumous and Roy showed glimpses of their link-up play but Chennaiyin remained resolute. It was Edwin from Chennaiyin who could have handed his team but was unlucky in his attempt.
Bagan brought in David Williams surprisingly in the dying embers of the game but the Australian failed to create an impact as both sides split points.
“I’m very happy with the performance of the team. Our team looks very serious on the field in all aspects. We deserved to win and I’m very proud of my players for their performance. The way they played, their character, their effort and the tactical changes they made when we changed the system this week. I congratulate them for their performance.”
Marco Pezzaiuoli’s Bengaluru FC side slipped to their fourth defeat of the 2021-22 Indian Super League campaign with a 2-1 loss to FC Goa at the GMC Athletic Stadium, in Bambolim. An Ashique Kuruniyan own-goal gave Juan Ferrando’s side the lead before Cleiton Silva whipped in a free-kick to level things up on the stroke of half time. However, Devendra Murgaonkar’s strike twenty minutes from time was the difference. Both sides ended the game with ten men after Jorge Ortiz and Suresh Wangjam were handed their marching orders in the second period.
Earlier, Marco Pezzaiuoli handed Danish Farooq his first start in the Indian Super League, as the midfielder replaced Edmund Lalrindika in what was the only change from the side that took on Hyderabad FC earlier in the week. Iman Basafa and Prince Ibara, who missed out on that encounter through injuries, were named on the bench.
