ISL: Atletico de Kolkata 3-0 Mumbai City FC

Kolkata’s players celebrate the third and final goalAfter much waiting and putting up with Priyanka Chopra’s annoying histrionics in the opening ceremony, we finally got down to the football and it was the hosts who emerged triumphant, rather comfortably at that in the opening match of the inaugural Hero Indian Super League. Atletico de Kolkata ended up big winners with a resounding 3-0 victory over fancied Mumbai City FC to get their campaign off to a flying start. As the home side roared to victory in this opener, these were the five major talking points:

#1 Subhasish outshines Subrata

This game saw two India goalkeepers go head to head against each other in Kolkata’s Subhasish Roy Chowdhury and Mumbai’s Subrata Pal. And it was Subhasish who emerged with his reputation enhanced at the end of the game. Subhasish, who has 4 India caps to his name, had a very good game and put in a very confident showing. It reflected in his demeanour as he bore a wide smile that got broader as the match went on and his side progressed from strength to strength.

Though Kolkata emerged from the game with a clean sheet, Subhasish had to make a few important saves that in the context of the game were crucial. The more experienced Subrata (57 caps) in contrast looked shaky and was at fault for Kolkata’s first goal. He was definitely outshone by his compatriot today.

#2 Mumbai\'s backline provides warm welcome to Kolkata\'s attackers

Peter Costa (left) came on for Raju Gaikwad for Mumbai after the latter’s poor showing

In the first 30 minutes of the game, Mumbai virtually hosted a buffet service for Kolkata’s attack, inviting all and sundry to come help themselves to generous servings of space to move into. They had a disastrous game and have no place to hide as they were at sixes and sevens right throughout the game.

An aspect that was supposed to be their strong point let them down big time in the opener. Be it marking the opponent, clearing danger balls or constricting the movement of Kolkata’s midfield and forward line, Mumbai’s defence failed abjectly at it tonight.

#3 Both teams struggled with their short passing initially

Both teams struggled initially but Kolkata got better

It was interesting to see both teams struggle with their short passing initially in the game. There were numerous instances of the pass being underhit and the ball just slowing down and not reaching the intended player. Kolkata’s got progressively better as the game wore on and was also possibly aided by the fact that they settled in nicely after the first goal.

Mumbai struggled for much longer and even by the end of the game had not completely come to terms with it. This could possibly be down to the nature of the pitch which looked very sluggish and also a little to do with the amount of time that these players have actually spent training together, which isn’t exactly a lot.

So, it felt and looked like the first game of any tournament, with some very patchy phases of passing, which should improve as the tournament goes on. A good portion of Mumbai’s attacks rely on that crisp short-passing as seen from their warm-up games, so it will be paramount that they get their act together.

#4 Mumbai wasteful while Kolkata on the money

Kolkata were clinical while Mumbai were left to rue wasted chances

Mumbai controlled possession for much of the game, but were unable to do anything constructive with it. As mentioned earlier, they struggled with their short passing and even in the final third they more often than not failed to pick out the right ball.

Mumbai actually had 12 shots on goal of which only 7 were on target while Kolkata were just so much more clinical as they had just 7 shots, but 6 of them tested the keeper. Mumbai also had plenty of set pieces in good positions which they failed to capitalize on.

#5 Kolkata dominate midfield with Garcia and Borja; Mumbai\'s non-existent

Mumbai’s ‘Didika’ failed to get into the game

Kolkata dominated from start to finish in every aspect of the game. Their defence was better marshalled and their attacks were more cohesive, but the key difference in this game came from how well their midfield operated in contrast to that of the team from Mumbai.

Borja Fernandez’s spectacular goal will grab the headlines, but the work that he and Luis Garcia put in in linking the play for their team stood out. Mumbai’s attacks often were disjointed with many attacks featuring the backline and the forwards, completely bypassing the midfield which is never a good sign. And even when they did try and initiate play through the middle, they more often than not finished tamely.

To top it off, Mumbai’s wingers, Syed Rahim Nabi and Lalrindika Ralte had a game to forget. Captaining the side, Nabi failed to provide any direction and had his game cut short prematurely thanks to an injury while Ralte was left with too much to do thanks to his misfiring teammates. Pavel Cmovs, the central defender, made many forward ventures. While adventurous and a mark of his ability on the ball, it certainly reinforces the idea that Mumbai coach Peter Reid has some work to do with his personnel in the middle of the park.