A depleted Atletico de Kolkata, without star forward Fikru Teferra, put up a spirited show but could not score that elusive winner settling for a 1-1 draw against a lucky Kerala Blasters FC in their fifth ISl encounter at the Salt lake Stadium, on Sunday.
Atletico maintained their top position in the league table with 11 points from five games while Blasters earned their first point in third game. Baljit Sahni gave ATK the lead in the 22nd minute with a powerful strike beating David James’ outstretched hands.
Against the run of play, KBFC struck the equaliser with former Championship goal poacher Iain Hume again being the scorer, when he converted the opportunity with a smart finish beating a surging Subhasish Roy Chowdhury in the 41st minute of the match.
It was the crossbar that came to Blasters’ rescue after a stunning shot by Baljit in the six-yard box went past an aerial James only to hit the woodwork.
The absence of ATK’s mercurial forward Fikru meant llibert started up front, while Debnath too began at right back in place of Denzil Franco (injury) as the team also brought in goalkeeper Subhasish.
Their marquee player luis Garcia who is recovering from a hamstring injury too failed to make the 18 as ATK had to field five foreigners in the XI.
Pune register maiden win
PUNE: A striker always remains a striker is what David Trezeguet showed when he rolled back all those years with an opportunistic strike to help FC Pune City register their maiden win beating FC Goa by 2-0 on Sunday.
It was an evening of World Cuppers as Trezeguet’s 81st minute strike was preceded by Greece World Cupper Kostas Katsouranis’ side volley in the 41st minute which gave the home team lead.
For Goa, things seemed to be getting from bad to worse as they have now lost three out of their four matches and are languishing at the bottom of the table. FC Pune City with this win moved to fifth.
Trezeguet didn’t do much in the game but when rival defender Gregory Arnolin tried a backpass for Goa custodian laxmikant Kattimani, Trezeguet showed why he’s a major threat in front of goal.
The Frenchman latched onto the ball and with Kattimani trying to narrow the angle immaculately placed it past the surging goalie to make it 2-0.
The first goal came against the run of play as Katsouranis scored from the dead ball situation.
Daniele Magliocchetti put the ball in the six-yard box and Katsouranis unleashed a powerful side volley, which marked the Greek World Cupper’s maiden ISl goal.