PANJIM: Cometh the man, cometh the hour! And that man, for ATK Mohun Bagan, was once again Roy Krishna. After a cagey affair threatened to end in a goalless draw, Krishna’s late strike (85′) was the difference as Antonio Habas’ team edged Jamshedpur FC 1-0 in the Indian Super League at the Fatorda Stadium on Sunday.
The win propelled ATKMB to the top of the Hero ISL table and also into the playoffs. Mumbai City FC, who ATKMB displaced at the top by two points, have a game in hand. The result also meant that Jamshedpur’s chances of making it to the playoffs are all but over.
But Krishna was not to be denied for long. His goal came right after ATKMB keeper Arindam Bhattacharja had acrobatically kept out a header from Valskis that looked to be going in. And as was the case with a lot of times that Krishna had scored, it was David Williams who created it. After receiving the ball from the Australian, Krishna found the right-hand corner of the goal, past a diving Rehenesh, with a perfect finish.
NorthEast United took advantage of both their rivals for the top-four spot — FC Goa and Hyderabad FC — dropping points, with a convincing 3-1 victory over Odisha FC at the Tilak Maidan Stadium.
Goals from Luis Machado (9′, 24′) and Deshorn Brown (19′) moved the Highlanders to third and two points clear of both Hyderabad and Goa. With the latter two teams taking on each other in their final game, NorthEast are now heavy favourites to grab a playoff spot.
Bradden Inman (45′) netted a consolation for Odisha.
