AGENCIES, KOLKATA: Three goals down in the first leg, Atletico de Kolkata (ATK) literally have to wake up from the grave and make a comeback if they are to edge past Chennaiyin FC and make the Indian Super League (ISL) final as the two teams lock horns here for the second leg of the semi-finals on Wednesday.
Though the job at hand is tough, it is not beyond Atletico’s reach. ATK coach Habas and his men would like to believe that they can pull it off, but then in the first leg match at Pune, Chennaiyin had beaten ATK 3-0.
The hosts need to score at least thrice and not concede and hope they come out on top in the penalty shootout.
But it is easier said than done. Chennaiyin would leave no stone unturned to ensure they safely reach the final on December 20.
On Saturday, Chennai decimated the white and red brigade at Pune, where the former had to play their home leg because of the flood situation in their city. What came as a surprise was that Atletico, who were having it easy finding the back of the net in the last few outings, could not do so that day.
However, former India cricket captain and ATK co-owner Sourav Ganguly is still hopeful of a turnaround.
“Yes, I am hopeful. Let’s see if we can get a 3-0 result here and then get to the shootout. We have beaten Chennaiyin previously and I don’t see why we cannot do it again. But in the first leg they played better,” Ganguly told reporters.
