ATK Mohun Bagan edge Kerala Blasters FC in ISL 20-21 opener

Newly introduced ATK Mohun Bagan got off to a winning start in the seventh edition of the Indian Super League (ISL) on Friday with a 1-0 win over Kerala Blasters FC at the GMC Athletic Stadium in Goa’s Bambolin. 

Having finished as the joint-top scorer last season, Fiji striker Roy Krishna scored the only goal of the game on the 67th minute-mark to get the ‘Green and Maroon’ brigade off to an ideal start. 

An interesting sub-plot saw Kibu Vicuna, who coached Mohun Bagan to their fifth I-League title last season before their merger with three-times ISL champions ATK, come up against his former club. 

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And despite fielding a defence-heavy lineup, it was the Kerala Blasters that dominated possession in the first half with nearly 70% but failed to create a clear opening on goal, with both teams failing to muster a single shot on target. 

Krishna, who was adjudged player of the match for his decisive goal, fluffed his lines multiple times in the first half as the Kolkata-outfit looked the more threatening of the two sides in the early exchanges. 

Shortly after the hour-mark, ATKMB pounced on the counter and a failed clearance attempt from a cross allowed Krishna to collect the ball at the edge of the box and find beat Kerala goalkeeper Albino Gomes with a neat finish at his near post. 

Kerala Blasters are next in action on November 26, when they take on NorthEast United, with ATK Mohun Bagan’s next fixture being the much anticipated first-ever Kolkata derby in the ISL against arch-rivals SC East Bengal on November 27.