ATK 3 (3) -1 (2) Bengaluru FC: 5 Talking Points & Tactical Analysis as ATK book final berth | ISL 2019-20

#2 Prabir Das inspires improbable ATK comeback

Prabir was instrumental in ATK's comeback (Image: ISL)

ATK was dealt a severe blow at the start of the second leg when Bengaluru FC scored in the 5th minute and secured an away goal. Subsequently, it meant that the hosts had to make the net bulge at least thrice while also ensuring that they kept the back door shut.

As things panned out, they did so expertly and none was as influential in the turnaround as Prabir Das.

The wing-back was a bundle of energy throughout the game and caused the visitors all sorts of problems. He overlapped incessantly and provided ATK with an attacking outlet for the entirety of the contest.

Additionally, he diligently fulfilled his defensive duties, even as BFC tried to barge through the hosts’ rear-guard towards the end.

Most pleasingly though, Prabir, for all the hard yards he had put in, was also able to conjure an end product, meaning that ATK’s forwards feasted on it and eventually, put the game beyond Bengaluru’s reach.

In the first half, the wing-back popped up high on the right flank countless times and just as the half-hour mark approached, the Indian laid the ball on a plate for Krishna to smash home the equalizer.

After the restart, the defender kept pushing and probing for an opening and was a constant menace down the wings. And, his endeavours bore fruit in the 79th minute when he tiptoed his way past a couple of challenges and drilled the ball towards Williams, who had stationed himself just inside the box. The Australian did the rest and sent the Salt Lake Stadium into raptures.

Prabir ended the match with 63 touches, 33 passes, 8 crosses and 5 clearances, thereby underlining his importance to the side.

At the start of the season, not many would’ve earmarked the Indian as a potentially decisive tilting scale, especially in clutch clashes. However, as the term has progressed, Prabir has only enhanced his reputation and on Sunday, it reached a crescendo.