Kerala Blasters edge ATK 2-1 in ISL 2019 opener

Kerala Blasters came from a goal down to beat ATK 2-1 in the opening match of the sixth edition of the Indian Super League, at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi. A brace from captain Bartholomew Ogbeche, including a penalty, negated Carl McHugh’s opening strike for ATK, in front of a vociferous home crowd.

The stands were brimming with a sea of yellow supporters as the football fever returned to the state in the pouring rain. It took just five minutes from kick-off for the stadium to go from deafening noise to a stunned silence. McHugh had volleyed from close-range off a free kick to give ATK the lead in the sixth minute.

The noise was back within minutes after Blasters’s Jairo Rodrigues came close to heading it into the goal from a similar set piece. The ball landed just over the bar. ATK looked more organised and threatening in the opening minutes. The Blasters defence was in disarray with sloppy passes that gave the ball away and a lack of cohesiveness. The absence of Sandesh Jhingan in central defence made it difficult for the side, as did the lack of a proper pre-season. Both teams were overhauled by their new coaches, but the Kerala side did not get to try out their squad after their pre-season was cut short in the UAE.

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As the ATK attack continued to storm the Blasters box, the home side slowly found its feet and peaked when Ogbeche scored his first of the night. The penalty came in the 29th minute after Brazilian defender Jairo Rodrigues—who received a booking earlier—was pulled down by Pronay Haldar in the box off a corner kick. ATK were denied a penalty just moments before at the other end, and the string of events sent ATK coach Antonio Habas fuming at the touchline. This was after several decisions went the Kerala side’s way.

ATK’s new signing, Roy Krishna, the golden boot winner of Australia’s A-League last season, showed glimpses of his class, going on a dizzying solo run from the halfway line to his goal, only to nudge the ball the wide. The forward failed to find the net today.

And, just when it looked like the half would end in a stalemate, Ogbeche pulled a trick out of his hat to send the Kochi crowd into raptures. Blasters winger Prasanth Karuthadathkuni, who had a brilliant half, flew down the right to drive in a low cross towards Ogbeche. The interception botched, the ball fell to the Frenchman’s feet and he whipped it into the top right corner, minutes before half time.

In the second half, ATK came close to scoring again, within a minute from kick-off, when a fumble near the goal mouth from a corner led to a shot being dragged wide. For a while, both teams looked comfortable on the ball and chances came in thick and fast for strikers of both sides. Ogbeche and Krishna tried their best to make the best out of every half chance that came to them. It is clear how reliant the teams will be on these two quality strikers as the season wears on.

There was an injury scare in the 68th minute when Krishna and Rodrigues clashed in the box as the striker charged on goal. To the relief of both coaches, the two key players were back on the pitch soon after. In the near absence of away supporters, the support at the ground was heavily skewed in favour of the Blasters, and many brilliant manoeuvres by ATK often went unnoticed and unappreciated. Pritam Kotal and David Williams had sent Krishna through with beautifully threaded through balls, but were well intercepted by Rodrigues and Gianni Zuiverloon.

Midfielder Edu Garcia’s introduction in the 75th hoped to inject some life into the ATK attack and he almost did so a minute later with a long-range free kick that flew just over the bar. Though the 36,000-strong crowd remained largely calm in the second half, the noise hit the roof with the introduction of local boy Sahal Abdul Samad in the 81st minute.

And, he didn’t disappoint. The Indian international is said to have been struggling with a niggle he picked up during the FIFA World Cup Qualifier against Bangladesh last week. The creative midfielder was in the thick of things, using his playmaking abilities to supply the ball to the attackers. The shooting by both sides from open continued to be below par, though.

The frustration for Habas continued late into the game and he was left shaking his head and giving the fourth official an earful for all the decisions that went against his team. He continued to argue with the officials after the final whistle and walked off in a huff, muttering under his breath. His side looked the more skilful of the two, but his opponent Schattorie had won this tactical battle.

In the end, Blasters won at home, something that fans yearned for last season. It may not have been in the most convincing fashion, but this should bring the fans back for more. Kochi hasn’t seen a packed stadium in a long time, and the start of a new season under new manager Eelco Schattorie has given fans much hope to turn up once again to support their beloved side.

ATK, on the other hand, will rue the missed chances, but will look to build on the attacking prowess in the games to come.

Kerala Blasters will next take on Mumbai City FC on October 24.