Atletico de Kolkata gained crucial three points and moved up to the second position in the points table as they outclassed Chennaiyin FC yet again the Indian Super League (ISL) 2015.
The match started in a fashion that one started assuming goals are a far-fetched idea in match no. 40 of the ISL 2015 between Atletico de Kolkata and Chennaiyin FC at the Vivekananda Yuvabharati Krirangan (Saltlake Stadium) on Wednesday.
The crowd went silent and equally frustrated with no action whatsoever in the first 25 minutes of the game. Out of nowhere, a through ball from Elano found Jaime Gavilan of Atletico de Kolkata but he failed to clear the ball and gifted it to Raphael Augusto. Atletico de Kolkata defender Augustine Fernandes got another chance to clear the ball but he completely missed it and Augusto found the back of the net with a sublime finish past Amrinder Singh.
The football fans had something to cheer about as Chennaiyin FC was on scoresheet. The match found some momentum and gained a little bit of speed as well as it was going at a snail's pace.
In the 40th minute of the match, Elano's flighted delivery found Fikru and the latter could have easily scored the second goal as he was one on one with the keeper but he ended up gifting the ball to Amrinder Singh. That was indeed a golden opportunity for the visitors to maintain their dominance in the game.
In the 45th minute, Atletico de Kolkata won a free-kick in a dangerous position. Gavilan was on the ball to take the free-kick. The Spanish midfielder went for the goal but goalkeeper Karanjit Singh punched the ball out and it landed on Sameehg Doutie's feet and he blasted the ball through the Chennaiyin FC defense and equalised for his side. The celebration was also classic as he treated the Atletico de Kolkata fans with a summersault!
The second half was up and running and the fans went right behind the home side. They kept chanting "ATK, ATK, ATK!" and they were relentless. All of a sudden the noise level inside the stadium went a notch higher than it was in the first half.
Iain Hume was always lurking around that Chennaiyin FC penalty box area. Douite with a wonderful run in the 62nd minute down the flanks and came up with a wonderful cross and Hume just had to make a touch on that ball to put Atletico de Kolkata ahead in this crunch encounter. That was a wonderfully constructed goal from the defending champions.
Hume scored his fifth goal of the ISL 2015 and is now a contender of that golden boot award. And it was the winner as well and the Canadian forward could not have been more happier.
Chennaiyin FC now have plenty of reasons to worry as their hope of making it to the semi finals is dying slowly. They have to win their all three remaining games in order to give themselves a nother chance. On the other hand, this was an important victory for the defending champions as up next they have table toppers FC Goa on Sunday but Atletico de Kolkata will have the home advantage yet again!
