MATCH REPORT: ATK justify top slot with big win as they run roughshod over inconsistent Goa

THE DEFENDING CHAMPIONS de-throned the Gaurs at the top of the ISL points table by absolutely hammering them at home. Atletico de Kolkata claimed an emphatic 4-0 victory over FC Goa at home, aided by a fierce brace from Sameehg Doutie.

Coming off morale-boosting victories of their own, both teams came into this game with two changes each to their squads from the previous games. Mohammed Rafique and Oftense Nato were included in the ATK starting line-up as Arata Izumi and Valdo were dropped by coach Habas. Goa coach Zico, meanwhile, decided to start Narayan Das and Nicolau Colaco ahead of Romeo Fernandes and Mandar Rao Desai.

At the beginning the home team went through some scary moments. A cross from Narayan reached Dudu who forwarded it to Moura who sent in a swift volley but it missed the mark. Then Rino Anto caused another tense moment when Dudu intercepted his back pass but the Nigerian striker's shot missed the goal and ATK survived.

But after this Kolkata slowly came back into the game. Over the next few minutes they kept more of the ball, made a few runs and earned a couple of well-placed free kicks that lifted the pressure. And then, around the 20th minute, Gavilan found Sameegh Doutie who breached the Goa defensive line and slotted it right in. ATK were now leading 1-0.

And before Goa could settle down ATK scored again. It was Borja who made the key pass to Samehg Doutie who shot it back at the ex Real Madrid medio who was in space. The finish was flawless. 2-0.

Goa immediately went on a defensive posture to keep this from becoming a goalfest. It worked to the extent that they did not consider another goal in that half; but ATK retained a foothold on the game. 

Doutie made a threatening run into the Goa box fooling two defenders but Lucio made a timely tackle to claim the ball. Then they attempted a counter; Jonatan tried to feed Dudu inside the ATK box but Tiri kept him under pressure and the ball went to keeper Amrinder.

Tempers flared, as is known to happen whenever these two teams meet. Lucio and Iain Hume got into argument over tussle for the ball but thankfully nobody tried a head-butt. 

Augustine Fernandes made a good pass to Iain Hume but Laxmikant was alert; he rushed ahead to put pressure on the Canadian striker and make the save.

Before the half was over, FC Goa went for a subsitution; a fledging Gregory Arnolin was replaced by Denson Devadas. It was one of the last things that happened in the half. As the second half began, FC Goa started things with a rigorous push for an early break-through.

Things got a bit ugly again when Tiri brought Dudu down. Arguments happened, then Borja pushed Dudu and suddenly everyone got involved. Finally the referee calmed everyone down without the situation escalating too much.

Goa made their second substitution; Reinaldo came in for Jofre. The first substitute Denson Devadas, meanwhile, brought down Gavilan and earned a booking.

Dudu looked dangerous. He got a shot on goal that missed the target only because of a slight deflcetion. Then he fed Reinaldo who let fly but Amrinder collected it.

And then Nicolau Colaco made a horrible mistake. He fouled Sameehg Doutie inside the box and got Atletico de Kolkata a penalty; which was akin to a death sentence for the away team here. Iain Hume took the penalty and converted it. It was 3-0 to ATK.

At this point Habas went for some more creativity in the midfield rather than extra striking force by bringing in Arata Izumi for Mohammed Rafique. Nicolau Colaco, meanwhile, got taken off by Zico to make way for Mandar Rao Desai; an aggressive change.

But none of that seemed to be working as Atletico de Kolkata scored again. Oftense Nato fed Sameehg Doutie and the South African got past everyone, including the keeper, and made his second goal of the night look like a cakewalk. FC Goa were now 4-0 down; equal to their worst result of the season that came in the loss to Chennai at home.

Habas took a couple of substitutions to while away the time. Arata got a great ball, dead in front of the goal inside the penalty box, but he sent it for a six. Dudu tried a counter but Arnab Mondal ran after him and had the situation neutralised. Stuff happened back and forth until finally the referee blew the long whistle. Atletico had won 4-0 against FC Goa, to get to the top of the table, and virtually ensure a place in the semi-finals.

Matches between ATK and FC Goa have perhaps become the most attractive fixtures in the ISL. Every time these two teams meet, things happen that take everyone by surprise. Tonight it was the utter lack of consistency from Zico's team. This is a squad that just came off a record-setting 7-0 victory and tonight they looked like a bottom-table team. It may be due to the loose, half-baked turf at the Salt Lake Stadium (FC Goa were not allowed to practice on this ground even once) or that Mumbai City were extremely bad; but Habas seemed to have a plan ready for every move that Zico's team tried and once the defending champions got going, Goa looked nowhere close to coming back.

Zico will now have to treat their last home match against NorthEast United on Wednesday as a must-win game because a top four qualification hasn't quite been achieved yet; and after tonight's result he will want to keep as much pressure off away fixtures as possible.

For Atletico de Kolkata, salvation is near. They are on 20 points from 12 matches, and both their reamining fixtures are at home, against Pune and Mumbai. The defending champions will have enough time to prepare for both of these matches and with the form Habas's boys have showed of late; top four seems a certainty, it's now a question of pushing for a top of the table finish.