Half Time Report: ATK defend one goal lead well; Goa sees enough chances to draw level

FC Goa: Elinton Andrade, Debabrata Roy, Lucio, Gregory Arnolin, Keenan Almeida, Jofre, Denson Devadas, Leo Moura, Mandar Rao Dessai, Romeo Fernandes, Reinaldo

Atletico de Kolkata: Amrinder Singh, Augustin Fernandes, Oftense Nato, Tiri, Denzil Franco, Borja Fernandez, Gavilan Martinez, Javi Lara, Arata Izumi, Baljit Singh Sahni, Iain Hume

AS THE VISITORS started without captain Josemi in order to shuffle the team to account for the absence of key players Helder Postiga, Arnab Mondal and Rino Anto, Zico's FC Goa fielded the same starting XI that took to the pitch in the 2-0 win over Delhi Dynamos in the first match. 

ATK coach Habas placed Iain Hume as the target man up front while handing the experienced Arata Izumi a start in the midfileld, while Tiri came back from an injury to replace Josemi in the defence.

FC Goa took on the defending champions with the unpleasant record of never having beaten them in the 4 matches they played in the first edition of ISL. The Zico-led side lost out to the Kolkata team in the semi-finals by a penalty shootout. And there were off-the-field scuffles as well, which fuelled the rivalry between these two franchises.  

It was common knowledge that ex ATK man Jofre was going to be central to Goa's plans to take on his former team. So the ATK defenders were ready to stop him at all cost from the very first minute. Denzil Franco welcomed him into the contest with a harsh tackle where he got the ball but took down the Spanish medio quite roughly. Munutes later, Gregory Arnolin came up with a reply for that, pulling a clean but stern tackle on Iain Hume from behind.

Jofre stayed in search for openings in the extra-tightened ATK defence, as he sought to clear the defensive line with a lofted ball that fell to Rainaldo who fired it first-touch with his left foot and it just about missed the near post, slamming into the side netting. 

Goa kept on trying to remain on the offensive but a couple of minutes later they went down by a goal. It was a throw in, which saw the ball get to Javi Lara, who turned around and sent a slightly high ball into the box where Iain Hume and Arata Izumi were standing very close together. The cross took Leo Moura, standing only feet away, completely by surprise as both Hume and Izumi went for it. But it was the Pune FC veteran medio who managed to get a perfectly timed volley on it that left Andrade rooted to the ground, watching as the ball shot past him into the net. 

Down by a goal, the home side remained on lookout for an early comeback. And they got chances. They got the ball dangerously deep into the ATK penalty box but found no one at hand to put the final move on it. A free kick by Jofre tried to find Lucio but got intercepted. Romeo ran into the ATK box from the right only to get blocked by the goalsocrer Arata. Leo Moura went for a long-ranger but it was well-wide. Then Romeo came close again, leaving Borja behind. But he missed the target by inches.

But Atletico de Kolkata braved it all and soon they were the smoother side on the pitch, controlling the ball well, and started to make probe further for a potential second goal. Javi Lara took a shot at the goal but it was from a bit too far to make much trouble. 

Lucio had a good chance but his left footer was well saved by ATK goalie Amrinder Singh. But the same Amrinder was found wanting when his one-handed deflection of a Keenan Almeida shot almost gave Romeo the ball in front of an open net. Had Baljit not been there it could have been the equalizer.

Denson was having a poor game all alone, and he added another folly to his tally as he let Arata get past him, enter the box and take a shot at the goal (he could have passed to Iain Hume who was in a better position), Andrade managed to keep it out with his leg. 

Then the Gaurs were denied a penalty. As a high ball was descending into the ATK box, Reinaldo was brought down well inside the penalty area by Oftense Nato. The referee didn't see it that way though.

But at least he correctly spotted Borja Fernandez bringing Leo Moura down and flashed him a yellow. Two minutes later he yellow carded Gavilan too for a similar offence, right after Reinaldo had found the ball dangerously close to the goal but managed to only find the keeper with his weakened delivery. 

As the half-time whistle sounded, the defending champions were firmly in the lead with a goal and were defending it well. 

But FC Goa have seen enough chances and clearly have the fire-power to get back into the game. A bit of fine tuning up front to adjust the lack-of-finisher problem might do the trick for Zico. Maybe a second striker up front in the second half? We'll find out soon.