PTI, KOLKATA: Bottom-placed NorthEast United FC struck through a Simao Sabrosa penalty to shock reigning champions Atletico de Kolkata 1-0 in an Indian Super League football match at Vivekananda Yuva Bharati Krirangan here on Saturday.
This was the Highlanders’ third win this season as they opened up the table to move to 10 points, same as ATK and Chennayin FC, who are on fifth and sixth places respectively on goal difference.
For the home side this was their fourth loss of the season and second successive at home with their last match against Delhi Dynamos FC ending on an identical scoreline.
The visitors stunned the home fans, taking a ninth minute lead through a Sabrosa penalty, which came off a dubious decision. Referee David John Gantar pointed to the dreaded spot, much to the horror of the home side, after Carlos Lopez was brought down inside the box by Ofentse Nato in a goalmouth melee from a Simao corner.
A fit-again Simao, who started in the XI, converted the penalty without much fuss and the Highlanders held on to the lead in the first-half despite some promising raids by ATK.
The defending champions had their best chance in the 38th minute when their latest recruit Mohammad Rafique, after being set up by Borja Fernandes, brillianty side-stepped Raju Yumnam from the right flank to send a perfect cross to Iain Hume.
The hattrick hero in Mumbai, however failed, to keep the header down as the ball sailed over the bar and landed on the roof of the net.
The Highlanders looked extremely organised after the changeover and put all their force in the backline with the giant Andre Bikey of Cameroon holding fort along with Argentine Carlos Lopez in the central defence.
