ISL 3: Atletico de Kolkata come from behind to win against Highlanders

by Chittu Shetty October 28, 2016

Second half strikes from Postiga, Belencoso powers Atletico de Kolkata to the top of table as they came from behind to win after Alfaro had given northeast the lead in the first half.

Emiliano Alfaro scored his fifth goal of ISL 3 in the 39th minute to put NEUFC into the lead, but Substitute Helder Postiga’s 63rd minute strike brought Kolkata to level before Juan Belencoso’s 82nd minute winner meant that Atletico picked up their second away win of this season moving to top of the table.

Northeast had two changes in their lineups missing the service of injured Velez and Romaric being replaced by Robert Cullen and wellington priori. For Atletico, Postiga was back in the bench from injury while Hume was rested as Belencoso led the attack. Pritam Kotal, Sereno and L Ralte were back in the starting lineups replacing Robert Lalthlamuana, Tiri and Abinash.

The game started with home team looking confident in the attack while the visitors took time to settle, in the fifth minute of the game Kolkata almost conceded the goal when a confusion between Arnab Mondal and Debjit resulted in a chance for lurking Alfaro before Mondal cleared the danger. In the 16^th minute, Northeast were denied a possible penalty when Yusa was brought down by Sereno after a rampaging run inside the box.

At half hour mark, Visitors had their first real chance when a Doutie’s cross fell in to the path of Belencoso, whose shot was blocked by Gustavo. Five minutes later, Northeast were once again denied a penalty, when Alfaro was brought down by an onrushing Debjit inside the box, only for referee to see it otherwise.

Highlander’s constant attack soon resulted in to a deserving goal, when a quick one-two by Nirmal Chhetri and Yusa ended with the former providing an inch perfect cross from the right for Alfaro to head it past Debjit. The first half ended with Northeast going in to tunnel with a deserving lead although they were twice denied a penalty.

Also Read: ISL 3: Another draw for Dynamos as the winless streak extend to five games

With the team trailing Kolkata made two changes bringing in marquee player Helder Postiga in place of Doutie and Robert Lalthlamuana coming in for Prabir Das. Postiga’s introduction soon lightened up Kolkata’s attack as they began repeated foraying in to the home team’s box.

In the 49^th minute, a cross from Postiga resulted in Belencoso heading it over the bar. Two minutes later another shot from Postiga was denied by a Zokora’s block. Postiga was soon paid for his efforts when in the 62^nd minute Ralte’s cross was expertly headed into goal by the former Valencia striker.

With Northeast making little inroads in the second half, Kolkata looked to threaten more. Soon an Injury forced Subrata paul to be replaced by W lima at the post which meant an outfield foreign player had to be replaced too, as Reagen singh came in for Cullen.

With just eight minutes of normal time left, Kolkata took a deserving lead. Postiga was once again in the middle of action as his shot got deflected to L Ralte whose cross was met by Belencoso as the Spaniard just had to tap the ball in while the Northeast defence were caught off guard to send the visitors in to the lead.

Northeast had an opportunity in the very next minute to draw parity, when Narzary’s cross was messed up by Debjit as the ball fell for Yusa but his shot was quickly blocked by an alert Mondal, as the ball once again fell for Northeast players, a cross in the end for Yusa was headed just wide off target by the Japanese striker. Five minutes later another effort was wasted, when Alfaro’s cross ended up by Yusa striking it over the bar.

The match ended in favour of Visitors as Northeast were themselves to be blamed for lack of efforts early in the second half as riding on the back of Postiga’s inspiring performance Atletico de Kolkata moved to the top of the table while Northeast dropped down to third position behind Mumbai city FC.

NorthEast United FC 1 (Alfaro 39’) – 2 Atletico de Kolkata (Postiga 63’, Belencoso 82’)