ATK Mohun Bagan strengthened their position towards the top of the 2020-21 Hero Indian Super League (Hero ISL) standings after a 1-0 win over FC Goa at the Fatorda Stadium on Wednesday. Roy Krishna scored the game’s only goal from the penalty spot late in the second half.

• ATK Mohun Bagan were the superior side in the first half but couldn’t score a goal.
• Roy Krishna scored the only goal of the game from the penalty spot in the 85th minute.

ATK Mohun Bagan looked to press Goa high up the pitch and were territorially superior despite being second best in terms of possession. It took 28 minutes for either side to register the first shot of the game on target and it was the Kolkata club that asked the Goa goalkeeper to save a tame Krishna effort from range.

Antonio Lopez Habas’ men were also inches away from taking the lead in the 40th minute after David Williams controlled a diagonal ball brilliantly to set himself up for a powerful left-footed shot from range that rattled the post. However, they couldn’t quite break the deadlock as both sides went into the break goalless and ATK Mohun Bagan’s record of not scoring in the first half this season remained intact.

Goa began the second half with some attacking intent, but it was ATK Mohun Bagan that hit the target first courtesy of a direct freekick by Williams in 54th minute that the goalkeeper saved comfortably. The Gaurs registered their first effort of the game on target a few minutes later when Alberto Noguera headed a cross from the right into the goalkeeper’s hands.

The Gaurs seemed to grow into the game after their first attempt on target but creating clear-cut chances were still proving to be hard for both sides. Goa had the best opportunity of the game to go ahead in the 80th minute when substitute Jorge Ortiz Mendoza was put through on goal after a brilliant one-two. Pressure from Carl McHugh on Mendoza as the Spaniard looked to get his shot away though ensured that the substitute didn’t connect the ball properly.

Just as it looked like the game might be heading for a goalless draw, Kolkata got a golden chance to break the deadlock from the penalty spot after Aiban Dohling mistimed a tackle in the box. Krishna stepped up to the spot and finished powerfully into the bottom left corner to make it 1-0 for ATK Mohun Bagan.

Goa though weren’t about to go down without a fight and threw men forward in their bid to score a late leveller. That said, shots from distance by Edu Bedia and Saviour Gama aside, Goa didn’t really test ATK Mohun Bagan’s goalkeeper much in the closing stages. The last piece of action in the game saw Bedia put his header from a corner agonizingly wide of goal as the Kolkata giants held on and returned to winning ways.

Hero of the Match – Carl McHugh

Carl McHugh put in a typically industrious display in the heart of midfield for ATK Mohun Bagan. The Irish midfielder covered every blade of grass on the pitch and created a chance besides also attempting two shots on goal. Defensively, he was always positioned well to snuff out danger and finished the game with two blocks, two clearances, three successful tackles and four successful interceptions.

Other Match Awards:

Club Award – ATK Mohun Bagan

DHL Winning Pass of the Match – Pronay Halder (ATK Mohun Bagan)

Watch the Match Highlights here: