Goans failed to defeat ATK again but earns much needed first point
Finally, FC Goa after facing spree of defeats succeeded to open their account in Indian Super League as the team played a draw with Atletico de Kolkata in the sensational football match here at Kolkata, on Sunday. The closing score of the match settled at 1-1 draw.
ATK took lead soon after the commencement of the match as the South African player, Sameehg Doutie shot a goal in the sixth minute but the team failed to maintain its lead as Jofre Mateu levelled the lead for FC Goa in the 76th minute of the match.
The sensational match saw several fouls too, as ATK players received three yellow cards and one red, while Goans had a share of four yellow cards and one red card here at the Rabindra Sarobar Stadium. Despite Zico’s team has opened their account but still they are at the bottom in a points table and ATK is continuing to be in third place with six points.
The excellent coordination between Iain Hume, Raju Gaikwad and Sameehg Doutie earned the first goal for ATK in the sixth minute of the game. As Raju Gaikwad bought down the header of Hume and passed the ball straight to Doutie, the South African welcomed it by blasting his volley past a diving Subhasish Roy Chowdhury to his left.
ATK players missed few chances in half-time otherwise; the team could have doubled their 1-0 lead easily and would have crushed Goans to defeat. Jofre Gonzalez, who represented ATK in their ISL- winning season 2014, had a chance to shoot a goal and he directed the ball into the right corner but Majumder went the other way which disappointed ATK’s home supporters.
The match’s first casualty happened in 52nd minute when ATK’s Scottish midfielder Stephen Pearson was sent off for a rash tackle on Trindade Goncalves. Soon Goans’ turn came when Sanjay Balmuchu in the 60th minute was sent off after being shown a second yellow for a foul on Prabir Das.
