ATK Mohun Bagan (ATKMB) won a smash and grab affair 1-0 against FC Goa and go level on points with league leaders Mumbai City FC. It was a very cagey game with chances few and far between for both the teams but a decisive penalty for the Mariners changed the complexion of the game completely as Roy Krishna made no mistake to convert from the spot.
While Juan Ferrando’s men also have had their chances but they were allowed to play the way they would have liked with ATKMB pressing high right from the go and also dominated the midfield battle which starved out Igor Angulo of proper chances throughout the match.
ATKMB did not allow the Gaurs to find the early passing rhythm
Antonio Habas was very clear with his vision and what he wanted from his players. In the first half, he had ideas and the players also delivered him with a near-perfect spell of play. The like of Roy Krishna, David Williams and Manvir Singh pressed Goa high up the field and forced them to make mistakes while playing out from the back. In midfield, the pressing duties were carried out by the likes of Pranoy Halder and Jayesh Rane who were tireless throughout the spell as they closed down the spaces and did not allow any room for the likes of Alberto Noguera, Edu Bedia and Lenny Rodrigues to create clear cut chances.
The early pressure forced Goa to play directly to ATKMB’s hands by taking the longer route something which is very uncharacteristic of the Gaurs. Also, the long balls are an area where yet again the Mariners flourished and they continued to take control of the game eventually seeing it off with a crucial 1-0 win.
Carl McHugh has been immense for ATKMB
The former Motherwell FC skipper came to India last season. However, he, unfortunately, got injured in the early exchanges of the tournament. Despite that, Habas decided to stick to McHugh knowing the quality that he can deliver once he regains his fitness. That has surely been the case. The lone warrior in midfield who has been a stalwart for the Mariners this season delivered yet another masterclass against FC Goa. He was a star player in a very crucial game to get ATKMB back on winning ways.
McHugh sat deep just ahead of the backline. He broke up play and initiated the counter-attacks by releasing the forwards into open spaces. While he was vested with more defensive work in this match, he still showed exceptional skills of resisting the press and keeping the ball safely. His tackle on Noguera late in the second half became the highlight of the game.
It would have been a clear chance for the Spaniard had McHugh not been there at the right time. All in all, it was a resilient performance from the Irishman who is winning the hearts of all ATKMB fans.
Jorge Ortiz added that spark in attack for FC Goa after coming on
Juan Ferrando went in with a huge gamble. He rested both Brandon Fernandes and Jorge Ortiz Mendoza. They were not in the starting lineup against ATK Mohun Bagan. The Mariners frustrated the life our of the Gaurs. Someone with the sharp dribbling skills and quick feet of Ortiz would have been handy. Even someone with Brandon’s ability to pick passes in the final third could have done wonders.
Igor Angulo has been brilliant this season. He was completely neutralized by the ATKMB backline. They starved him out with no supply. However, when Jorge Ortiz came on in the 74th-minute, things started working out. The Spanish duo worked together. They almost got the goal from a deflected ball from Brandon which Arindam Bhattacharya intervened.
Ortiz’s presence felt like Angulo was unlocked. There was more into the game in the last quarter than in the majority of the match. This proves that Ferrando missed a trick. He should have at least started one of Ortiz or Brandon to cancel out the odds. Also, the controversial penalty appeal in the 80th minute was involving Ortiz who went down on the box claiming for the spot-kick. This again proved how dangerous he could have been for the stretch of the game.
