12 October,2016 09:02 AM IST | | Ashwin Ferro
Mumbai City FC's Argentine winger Matias Defederico's shot, a contender for goal of the tournament, was cancelled out by Atletico de Kolkata's (ATK) Spaniard Javi Lara as both teams shared the spoils in a keenly contested Indian Super League-3 encounter
Mumbai City forward Matias Defederico (left) successfully slots the ball past Atletico de Kolkata's goalkeeper Debjit Majumder during the Indian Super League-3 encounter at Andheri Sports Complex yesterday. Pic/Sportzpics
Mumbai City forward Matias Defederico (left) successfully slots the ball past Atletico de Kolkata's goalkeeper Debjit Majumder during the Indian Super League-3 encounter at Andheri Sports Complex yesterday. Pic/Sportzpics
Mumbai City FC's Argentine winger Matias Defederico's shot, a contender for goal of the tournament, was cancelled out by Atletico de Kolkata's (ATK) Spaniard Javi Lara as both teams shared the spoils in a keenly contested Indian Super League-3 encounter at the Andheri Sports Complex's Mumbai Football Arena yesterday.
In the 27th minute, Defederico still had some work to do after neatly bringing down an aerial long pass from teammate and defender Aiborlang Khongjee, as Atletico's Arnab Mondal and Pritam Kotal were in front of him.
But the wily forward tapped the ball to the left, past both defenders and let rip a left-footed screamer that beat Atletico 'keeper Debjit Majumder all ends up at the far post. The hosts were happy to hold on to the slender lead heading into lemon time.
Red card, a calamity
Midway through the second session, however, an unnecessary tackle on ATK captain Borja Fernandez by Mumbai's Pronay Halder, who was already booked in the first session, saw him sent off, turning the tide in Atletico's favour thereafter.
The visitors, now, attacked with renewed vigour and were aptly rewarded with a goal eight minutes from time.
This time, Lara was just outside the Mumbai box towards the left, before he moved inside and unleashed a right-footer that deflected off Jackichand Singh's outstretched foot and sailed over Mumbai 'keeper Roberto Volpato into the far corner of goal. The Kolkata side sans Helder Postiga, then pushed hard for a winner against a backpedaling Diego Forlan-less Mumbai outfit (both marquee players out nursing injuries) but there were no more goals to follow.
Both coaches later agreed that Halder's red card, the first of ISL-3, changed the texture of the game. "We did not have a good first half and Mumbai scored, but in the second, we fought harder. And then the red card of course was good for us, but Mumbai defended well and we could not get the winner," said ATK coach Jose Molina.
Lessons learnt
Mumbai coach Alexandre Guimaraes said he'd probably have a word with midfielder Halder soon. "In the second half, things changed after the red card and we were forced to go on the defensive. I'll have a chat with him (Halder) but these things happen and it taught us
how to defend with 10 players," he said.
