Atlanta FC drops points for the first time this season against spirited The Oranje FC

by Chittu Shetty March 4, 2023

Ambernath United Atlanta FC’s winning run came to an end as they were held to a 2-2 draw by The Oranje FC in the MFA Elite Division League.

It was Atlanta’s first draw of the season and the first time they dropped points. Atlanta has 34 points in 12 games and is currently placed 3rd in the league, behind Millat who have 37 points in 15 games.

Karnatak Sporting Association (KSA) sits at the top of the table with 38 points in 14 games, with one final league game against Atlanta FC, which could potentially be a title-deciding game.

The Oranje FC had an outside chance to finish in the top 3 and came out all guns blazing for it, taking the lead in just the 3rd minute with Ashish’s brilliant strike beating the Atlanta defense. Atlanta fought back and knocked on the Oranje goal several times before finally breaking the deadlock, with Bersal Veigas scoring in the 35th minute after a melee inside the box.

At halftime, the score was level at 1-1, but The Oranje FC took charge once again in the second half when Rinaldo Fernandes found the back of the net to make it 2-1. In a corner routine taken by Sahil Bhokare, the ball initially fell for The Oranje FC skipper Manish Siddha, whose powerful header came off the bar, however, the rebound fell for Rinaldo who made no mistake in slotting it home. Fernandes has been one of the star performers for his side this season, scoring 17 goals.

At the other end, Atlanta’s top scorer Arif Shaikh struck the equalizer for his side in the 75th minute to make it 2-2. Back-to-back fouls in the final 10 minutes saw Prathmesh Kasare being sent off, resulting in The Oranje FC playing with 10 men in the final 10 minutes of the game. However, the defense held on as the game eventually ended in a 2-2 draw.

The Oranje FC has showcased excellent resolve in the last two seasons, and for the second season running, they have finished in the top 4. Atlanta FC will look to regroup and bounce back in their next league game and will look to get back to winning form before the final league game against table-toppers KSA.

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