ISL: ATK register first home win, beat Delhi 1-0

Ten-man Atletico de Kolkata (ATK) scored their first home victory, riding on Iain Hume's late penalty to down Delhi Dynamos 1-0 in an Indian Super League (ISL) football match here on Saturday.

Hume scored from the penalty spot in the 78th minute to become the highest scorer in ISL's history at the Rabindra Sarovar Stadium.

Portuguese centre-back Henrique Sereno was sent off minutes before the goal for two bookings in the match. He brought down Richard Gadze inside the box being the last defender inside the penalty box.

Brazilian Marcelo Pereira missed the resultant penalty, scuffing his shot over the bar.

With the win, ATK went to the second spot with nine points from five outings in the points table, while Delhi remain fourth with six points from five matches.

Molina made four changes to his staring line-up with Tiri, Lalrindika Ralte, Bikramjit Singh and Juan Belencoso drafted in.

Delhi coach Gianluca Zambrotta, on the other hand, ringed in five changes with Doblas Santana, Lalchawnkima, Ruben Gonzalez, Marcos Tebar and Rupert Nongrum all handed starts.

Both sides had their share of chances in the first half.

In the fifth minute, Hume passed to an unmarked Sameehg Doutie. But Delhi goalkeeper Doblas Santana showed alacrity to come off his line at the right time and smother the attempt.

ATK's goal-scoring duo Doutie and Hume were dovetailing well in the initial stages.

At the other end, Delhi's Marcelino tried to chip over an onrushing ATK keeper Debjit Mazumdar but defender Prabir Das cleared the ball near the goalline.

The home side then benefitted from their custodian's super show, making three back-to-back saves in the 35th minute to keep the visitors at bay.

Four minutes later, Doutie crossed from the right for Juan Belencoso who made a darting run inside the box but headed over.

In the dying minutes of the half, Doutie was in the thick of things again pulling one back for Hume who blasted over from outside the box.

The teams went into the break tied goalless.

ATK coach Jose Molina brought in midfielder Jewel Raja in place of the ineffective Bikramjit Singh.

At the hour mark, ATK's defender Pritam Kotal combined well with Doutie on the right with the latter finding Lalrindika Ralte who shot over the bar.

Delhi substituted their marquee player Florent Malouda with Emerson Moura before the flow of the tie changed dramatically with penalties awarded at both ends.

Delhi were awarded the first penalty when Sereno tripped Gadze inside the box, which Marcelo blazed over.

Minutes later ATK received a penalty when Doutie was halted in his run by Lalchhawnkima near the byline of his own box.

Hume stepped up and made no mistake slotting the ball in the bottom left corner with the keeper diving the wrong way, ensuring ATK all the three points.

---IANS

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