ATK Mohun Bagan edged NorthEast United FC 2-1 in the pulsating second leg of the semifinal of the ISL 2020-21 at the Fatorda Stadium in Goa. The first leg of the tie had ended in a 2-2 draw.
ATK Mohun Bagan drew the first blood in the 38th minute, with striker Roy Krishna sending a through ball to his partner David Williams, who chased it down and slotted home.
After the break, the Mariners once again found the net in the 68th minute. It was Krishna again who was the provider, sending a long ball to Manvir Singh, who after a solo run and holding off a couple of defenders, slammed the ball past NEUFC custodian Subhashish Roy.
But the Highlanders managed to claw back into the game through V.P. Suhair, who headed in the ball from a deflection in the 74th minute. They had a golden chance to equalise in the 81st minute and send the match into extra-time, when Idrissa Sylla was fouled by Subhasish Bose inside the box and a penalty was awarded. But Luis Machado blasted the ball over the post.
Though NorthEast United went all out for the equaliser, ATK Mohun Bagan managed to hold on to their slender lead, and set up a final date with Mumbai City FC on March 13.
Mumbai beat FC Goa in a penalty shootout yesterday to enter the summit clash. Interestingly, Mumbai had beat ATK Mohun Bagan 2-0 in the final league match of the season to win the League Shield.
