Atletico de Kolkata continued their impressive winning streak by beating. hosts NorthEast United FC 2-0 at the Indira Gandhi Stadium, Guwahati.
Striker Fikru Teferra Lemessa and midfielder Jakub Podany scored for the visitors. But Borja Fernandez of Kolkata was expelled in the 84th minute for receiving two yellow cards, and they ended up being Ten-Men Team.
This is NorthEast United’s first loss in ISL after winning their first game against Kerala Blasters. Atletico de Kolkata led 1-0 at halftime when Fikru scored a beautifully taken goal in the 13th minute. It was his second goal in ISL.
Kolkata’s marquee player Luis Garcia chipped the ball over NorthEast’s defence and Fikru took it on his chest and volleyed it into the net leaving NorthEast fans stunned.
Jofre Mateu Gonzalez and Borja came close to scoring, but fantastic saves from the NorthEast goalkeeper Alexaros Tzorvas restricted them to do so, who was busy throughout the first half. Jofre’s cleverly-taken corner could have extended Atletico’s lead, but the ball rebounded off the right post.
The second half was more evenly contest with both teams trying to score and kept constructing attacks.
NorthEast came very close to equalise with Joan Capdevilla tapping the ball in the goal in the 70th minute from close range but he was adjudged offside.
Atletico were forced to back off as NorthEast diplayed supremacy towards the end, and that pressure forced Borja to commit a needless foul in the 84th minute and was sent off after getting his second yellow card.
NorthEast committed more men forward but were left vulnerable at the back while Atletico capitalised on the open spaces left behind by their opponents in the final minute of regulation time. Executing a great counter-attack that was converted smartly by an unmarked Jakub to make it 2-0 for the Sourav Ganguly Co-owned side.
Atletico de Kolkata will be hosting Delhi Dynamos FC on Oct 19 while hosts NorthEast will face FC Goa on the same day.
