MATCH REPORT: Highlanders on a high; subdue ATK 1-0 to sneak 2nd win on the trot

A LATE SECOND HALF GOAL saw NorthEast United pull off a crucial 1-0 win over defending champions Atletico de Kolkata tonight, as the Guwahati-based franchise continued a spectacular recovery from the three losses they started their campaign with.

Cesar Farias looked to further fine-tune on the performance put up by his boys in the win against FC Goa by making three changes to the starting line-up; bringing in Reagan Singh, Siam Hanghal and Carlos Lopez for Holicharan Narzary, Boithang Haokip and Silas.

For Antonio Habas, the need for improvement over the loss to Pune City drove him to make five changes. He brought in Amrinder Singh at goal to get the sixth foreigner in the outfield. Baljit Singh Sahni was also back from the 2-match suspension that he served for a head-butt on Gregory Arnolin. The other three who were drafted into the starting line-up were Jaime Gaivilan, Augustin Fernandes and Tiri.

Other than an early fumble from Rehenesh TP, NorthEast United began the game as the more aggressive team, repeatedly forcing the ATK defenders back into their own box to try and repel dangerous situations. 

Past the 10 minute mark, Bruno made a good run up the left flank and passed the ball to Siam Hanghal but the finisher was wide of the target.

Soon after, Iain Hume was tangled in a fight for the ball along with two NEUFC players. After getting up, Hume pushed Lopez and got into a verbal argument; the referee got involved and broke them up.

Atletico de Kolkata got their first good chance when Borja sent a cross to Gavilian who took a good volley, but missed the target by about three inches. NEUFC hit right back, with a hard-hit free kick from Bruno right on target, but Amrinder brilliantly managed to jump and pry it away with his left palm. 

Bruno remained a threat for ATK and at one point threatened to break past the defensive barrier. Rino Anto made a well-timed professional foul on him, earning himself a yellow card and saved his team from an early setback.

A dangerous situation ensued inside the ATK box as Bruno sent in a cross that Amrinder punched away. Reagan Singh picked it up and took a shot at the top corner but Amrinder rose to the challenge and made another great save.

ATK kept trying to put some pressure back on the home side but their efforts kept getting cleared and they were often falling victim to counter-attacks.

Gaivilan got a good chance to score towards the end of the first half as Hume sent a good ball to Borja who ran straight ahead with the ball. Aiborlang Khongjee stayed right with Borja, and did not give up until he had managed to clear it for a corner.

The last good chance of the half came to the defending champions when Gaivilan took a corner kick which Nato got a header on, but Andre Bikey managed to clerar it for a corner.

The half-ended 0-0. Both teams could have gone up in the first half, but were held back by bad finishes and some good instances of goal-scoring. The teams came on in the second half looking to up the ante, with a more attacking and competitive half about to begin.

At the very start of the second half Atletico de Kolkata were putting the hosts in all sorts of trouble as a cross from Iain Hume created pressure inside the NEUFC box. As everyone scrambled for the ball, it fell to Javi Lara who practically had an empty net staring him in the face. He still somehow managed to shoot it too high.

ATK kept pushing. Reagan Singh sent in a high ball to Kamara who put a header on it but missed the target. 

Meanwhile a comedy was unfolding on the sidelines. Nicolas Velez was all dressed up and ready to come in, but the fourth official got the wrong numbers on the board and had to go back to the table to get it right as Velez kept waiting. Then the subsitution was furthered delayed by Francis Dadzie being injured and treated on the field. Then the fourth official got the right numbers, but it was for another substitution; getting Sanju Pradhan on for Reagan Singh. Finally, after more than five minutes of waiting, Velez got to come in; replacing Dadzie.

Meanwhile ATK were still at it. Iain Hume sent a ball to Nato whose header hit the crossbar. It came to Javi Lara but Lopez managed to block his shot.

Soon Oftense Nato brought down Bruno Herrero and got yellow carded. 

Then Amrinder Singh made a major fumble, failing to grip a ball and just about keeping Gurung from reaching it as he conceded an unnecessary corner. 

Diomansy Kamaraq made way for Simao Sabrosa. But before he had settled in, it was another super substitute who had done the deed for the home side. 

A pass to Velez saw him run into the ATK box where he had lack of support. He stood there, waiting for others to catch up, as the whole Kolkata defence waited in attention. He then passed the ball to Sanju Pradhan whose shot hit the waist of Arnab Mondal and came back to Velez who took the shot, sending the ball right around a defender, beating Rehenesh, straight into the net. NEUFC were 1-0 up in the 77th minute.

It looked too late to save the game but Habas made his move. Sushil Singh came in for Baljit Singh Sahni. Lara kept on the pressure, with a ball into the box that Hume managed to head, but Robin Gurung managed to pull a block on him as it went out for a corner.

Then ATK were denied a penalty. Lopez and Borja fought for the ball inside the box, and Borja went down. As Lopez fell over too, the ball hit his outstretched palms. The referee saw neither the foul nor the handball. 

As a corner kick flew into the middle of the box Rehenesh claimed it, almost fumbled as he went down, inviting a couple of hopeful nudges from Anrab Mondal. One kick brushed the keeper's forehead and resulted in a yellow card for Anrab.

As the clock ticked on, ATK had one last crack at the equalizer. Augusitne Fernandes sent in a good cross that Hume got a header on but it was above the crossbar.

The match ended 1-0 in favour of NEUFC, and sent them right up to the 6th place above Kerala Blasters and Mumbai City. After starting their campaign with back to back defeats, Feras's boys have managed to turn it around, taking down two difficult opponents in Chennaiyin FC and defending champions Atletico de Kolkata. A lot of things went right for the home side tonight; but the credit must go to their defenders who managed to pull off impressive blocks again and again, much to the frustration of the ATK attackers. They got a bit lucky in the end too; with the penalty decision not going the visitors' way. But the way they controlled most of the evening, a victory was well deserved for the Highlanders.

For Atletico de Kolkata, the alarm bells have started ringing. They have now lost two matches in a row; and slipped to the 4th place. It's not that they have played badly. But in both the last two matches they have not managed to score a single goal and lost 1-0. It is the barren forward line that will keep Habas worried, perhaps more than the fact that his defence is yet to earn a clean sheet this season. As they welcome Delhi Dynamos on Thursday, ATK will arguably be put to a more stern test; playing with the pressure of making a comeback in front of their home fans. If they slip again, they risk a spiralling that could ruin their season.

For NorthEast United, it's a trip to Mumbai up next. They will look to continue with their winning streak against the bottom table team in a bid to gain entry into the coveted top four, from where they are just one point short all of a sudden; their back to back losses at the start of the campaign slowly becoming a bad memory from the distant past.