Chennai: Helder Postiga justified his tag of marquee player by netting a brace, as Atletico de Kolkata began their title defence with a 3-2 victory over Chennaiyin FC in a hard-fought encounter that kick-started the second season of the Indian Super League here on Saturday.

Postiga struck once in each half, while Frenchman Valmiro Lopes Rocha (Valdo) was the other scorer for the winners at the packed Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. Jeje Lalpekhlua and Elano Blumer found the target for Chennaiyin.