ISL 2015: Atletico de Kolkata 0-1 NorthEast United - 5 Talking Points

For the second time in the Indian Super League, NorthEast United managed to beat Atletico de Kolkata 0-1 at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata. It was an all-attacking game by the home team while NorthEast played outrightly defensive. The result, however, was in favor of the visitors, courtesy of a penalty kick in the 9th minute which Simao Sabrosa converted to give the Highlanders a famous win and move up the table. Here are the five talking points of the game. All images courtesy of ISL.

#1 Atletico dominate, NorthEast scores

NorthEast United lead 1-0 at halftime courtesy of Simao Sabrosa’s penalty despite Atletico de Kolkata dominating first half. The marquee player for NorthEast United started for the second time this season and converted the penalty which was awarded in the 9th minute for what looked like an apparent push by Nato on Lopez.

This was the third goal for the Portuguese in total, his second through a penalty while the other one came off a free kick against Delhi in the last match.

However, despite the initial lead, NorthEast failed to dominate while Kolkata persistently attacked the Highlanders. Mohammed Rafique was particularly brilliant on the flank as he created beautiful chances for Iain Hume up front. In fact, on one occasion Borja created a beautiful chance for him, which he failed to execute.

Atletico lead the attack index 72-28% at half-time. They also had five corners compared to NorthEast’s two and four shots on target compared to NorthEast’s one.

#2 Highlanders failed to counter-attack

It was an all out attacking game for the home team as they looked for an equaliser after conceding early. At one point, there were eight players inside the NorthEast box, including their defenders. This gave the visitors quite a few chances to counter-attack which NorthEast failed to exploit.

The combination of Simao and Velez on the right looked brilliant, but the midfield wasn’t strong enough. Velez, in fact, scored in the 32nd minute off a Simao assist, only for it to be ruled out for offside. Again, later in the 44th minute, Velez had a golden opportunity to score off another counter, but he decided to cross it to Arias and it was intercepted.

To cut the dialogue short, NorthEast failed to utilize counter-attack as tool to double their lead.

#3 The Great Wall of Andre Bikey

NorthEast United was not exactly clinical in defence, but they were very alert. And the Hero of the Match, Andre Bikey was surely the main man behind the clean sheet. The Spanish holding midfielder glued himself to the defensive line and produced vital blocks for his team.

In the 65th minute, Rafique crossed in a beautiful ball for Hume, which was sure a sure shot fourth goal for the forward. But Bikey intercepted the ball at the edge of the net to deny him a goal. There was again a repeat of the same in the 80th minute when Hume came dead close to scoring but Bikey did not let it happen.

The Kolkata forward line persistently attacked through the match, particularly from the right, pressurizing young Yumnam Raju. But Bikey and Lopez alongside goalkeeper Rehenesh TP made sure that the NorthEast defence did not get out of shape and were able to frustrate the attacking lineup of the defending champions.

#4 Game of imperfections for both teams

It was an absolute attacking game by Kolkata. There were times when goalkeeper Amrinder was seen outside the box, even near the centre line as almost every one of his teammates tried attacking NorthEast. Mohammed Rafique was brilliant on the wing with him producing some brilliant crosses for Hume in the centre.

Spanish midfielder Gavilan also created as well and was part of some brilliant moves but failed to crack the NorthEast wall. Atletico de Kolkata also managed eight corner kicks and a significant number of free-kicks, but none of them were good enough to equalize.

NorthEast might have won the game, but the conversion rate still remains an issue for the team. There seems to be ‘an inch of imperfection’ for NorthEast as every attempt they make misses by an inch. Velez missed again narrowly in the 60th minute in a counter-attack while substitutes Dadzie and Kamara missed two golden opportunities in injury time.

#5 The road ahead for both sides

This is the first away win for NorthEast United this season and for the first time ever they have defeated a team in both home and away games, that too against the defending champions. But the prevailing goal difference seems to be a big issue for Cesar Farias.

The team won’t have any chances of reaching the knockout stages unless they score. It was a purely defensive game for the team. It was the penalty which gifted the team win, but it is high time the forward line also gets going.

For Kolkata, they should have maintained the momentum after their 4-1 rout of Mumbai in the last game. They next travel to Kochi, which has difficult away conditions. A win there is a must for Antonio Habas’s team.