ISL: Atletico de Kolkata stay on top of the table after a goalless draw against Chennaiyin FC

Marco Materazzi of Chennaiyin FC and Fikru Tefera Lemessa of Atletico de Kolkata battle for the ball during match 31 of the Hero Indian Super League

It was time for the big two clubs to meet again in the Indian Super League as Atletico de Kolkata played out to a goalless draw at home against Chennaiyin FC to stay on top of the table.

In the reverse fixture a couple of weeks back, Atletico de Kolkata looked like they had secured the three points before a stoppage time penalty let Chennaiyin FC equalize with the match ending in a draw and two penalties and two red cards being brandished out.

Djemba-Djemba started for Chennaiyin FC alongside Materazzi in midfield while Joffre was back for Atletico de Kolkata after missing the last game through suspension.

Both teams brought their physical side to start the game, with flailing arms catching Fikru and Borja, it was Chennaiyin FC who carved the Atletico de Kolkata defence open thanks to a great run by the pacey Mendoza, his cut back into the box was not met by a Chennaiyin FC player and the rebound was shot wide by the Chennaiyin FC player.

It was Kolkata who were playing the long ball game, trying to exploit the slow Chennaiyin FC defence but some brilliant play in the 21st minute gave Fikru the chance to score but he shot wide, this was after some great one-two passing between Fikru and Nato.

The game went into a bit of a lull with both teams trading blows and the most exciting part for the fans was when a section of the lights went off in the 36th minute, leading to a huge roar from the crowd and a bit of a time out with both coaches providing instructions to their teams.

The match did restart after a 10 minute break and Chennaiyin FC had the best chance when a header was saved very well by Roy in the 43rd minute and that was the last good scoring opportunity of the half, tempers though were rising between the players with Fikru and Materazzi having a bit of a go at one another at the end of a largely slow half.

Fikru and Materazzi at it again

The second half started the same way as the first half ended with Materazzi and Fikru lodging heads at one another, Fikru complained to the referee about an overzealous challenge in the air from Materazzi, which bloodied the back of Fikru’s head.

The most exciting piece of action came in the 57th minute when Roy did well to gather a couple of crosses to keep Chennai at bay. Fikru won a free kick for Kolkata at the edge of the box and Luis Garcia stepped up to curl a beautiful shot which came off the crossbar, Bracigliano, the Chennaiyin FC goalkeeper did not move.

Chennaiyin FC thought they had gotten all the points in the 80th minute when Balwant Singh had chested the ball into an empty net thanks to a great cross from the line by Maurice but the assistant cancelled the goal as Balwant had handled the ball, Balwant was booked for the infringement, which did seem a little harsh.

Both teams ultimately cancelled each other out; Atletico de Kolkata remained on top of the league tied on points with Chennaiyin FC but ahead of goal difference. Neither team did enough to cement their position at the top of the league with just 6 points separating both teams from the last placed team in the league, Delhi Dynamos FC.