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ATK hosted Northeast United in match number 90 of this season’s ISL which was also the penultimate game of the group stages. Last season’s champions ATK had a horrendous season so far and wanted to end their season on a high. Northeast United on the other hand never really got their season started and their football improved only after ex Chelsea manager Avram Grant took over. Both the teams had not just pride but also the bonus of not finishing as the bottom-placed team in the league to play for.
A win for either of the teams would have meant that they would have finished above the bottom-placed team.
ATK took an early lead in the first half with a Robbie Keane goal. The early first-half goal turned out to be the vital winning goal which decided the game as ATK defeated NEUFC 1-0. It was the same old story for NEUFC as they created tons of opportunities but failed to convert them.
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On that note, let's take a look at the 5 Talking points of today’s game:
#1 Foreign Referees in a game of no value
A lot has been said about the quality of referees that have been on show during the ISL this season, and a lot of dubious or doubtful decisions have been lashed out throughout the season. It was rather late on during the season that the authorities decided to appoint foreign referees during the ISL.
The decision though was met with its fair share of criticism too, as a lot of football pundits felt that hiring foreign referees does not help solve the issues of the Indian referees.
The main question though is why appoint a foreign referee for a game that has literally zero impact on the league and in a game where both the teams are playing for pride more than anything else. Games like these are perfect opportunities to give the Indian referees a chance and then examine their pros and cons.
#2 Robbie Keane’s first game as caretaker manager
When Robbie Keane came to India he didn’t expect to experience something that he had never experienced on the football field before. With ATK interim head coach Ashley Westwood resigning just before the NEUFC game, the ATK management had given the managerial duties to the Irishman until the end of the season. With this decision, it also becomes Robbie’s first stint as a manager.
He got his stint as a player-manager off to a brilliant start as he scored a beauty from a Conor Thomas pass to give ATK the crucial lead in the early stages of the game. Robbie also was awarded the Man Of the Match and is the first player-manager to score the winning goal in a game.
#3 Poor finish by Mosquera or superb save by Soram Poirei?
It was the 36th minute when John Jairo received an Helio Pinto pass and ran past the duo of Anwar and Ashutosh Mehta and then got past Soram Poirei, with only the empty net at his mercy, he somehow shot it directly into the palms of Soram Poirei who made a diving leap to make up for the lost ground.
Enter Mosquera into the scene in the 53rd minute. This time he got a lovely through ball from Rowlin Borges, John was all alone with the keeper but well this time he hit it directly at Soram’s feet to miss his second clear sitter of the game.
Mosquera also had another brilliant opportunity from a Halicharan cross but missed his mark again as he put his shot wide.
Soram Poirei had a brilliant night, as he made a couple of brilliant saves to help ATK snatch a victory.
#4 Lots of build up, lack of final third action for NEUFC
NEUFC had the lion’s share of possession and also had more passes compared to ATK, NEUFC's pass success rate was also good at 85%, but all that didn’t really convert into anything. They did create a few chances but their strikers were having a really bad day at the office.
The final ball in the final third always seemed elusive, and all that possession seemed to count for nothing.
NEUFC also had a lot of corners and free-kicks but couldn’t utilise them to its full potential. NEUFC's problem of finishing chances and keeping hold of the ball in the final third has been the problem for them this season. The 30-minute spell in the second half when they threw the kitchen sink at ATK, it was their strikers' inability to convert that decided their fate rather than ATK’s brilliant performance.
#5 ATK rely on individual brilliance rather than a team effort
ATK has been having a horrendous season so far, and it is by far the worst title defence in an Indian league. This game had a particular importance for them as a win would have ensured that they don’t finish rock bottom and rub more salt to their wounds. Today, though ATK relied more on individual brilliance rather than proper team-work. The goal came as a result of the individual brilliance of Conor Thomas' pass and a Robbie Keane piece of brilliance. They relied on Soram Poirei sublime saves to keep them in the game. Otherwise, as a team, they failed in every aspect, as they failed to cook up a good move or defend as a team. They have to be thankful to the NEUFC strikers John Jairo in particular for missing so many chances. The way NEUFC passed the ball around the midfield also showed that the team looked to have problems in keeping their shape.
