Helder Postiga's brace helps Atletico edge Chennaiyin in ISL opener

By Harikumar V Portuguese striker Helder Postiga’s bitter-sweet debut helped Atletico de Kolkata edge Chennaiyin FC 3-2 in the opening match of the 2015 Indian Super League. An unfortunate mix up and a beautiful weighted ball from Elano meant that the teams shared honours with a goal apiece at the end of the first half. An opportunistic second from Postiga and a textbook header off a cross from substitute Valmiro Rocha better known as Valdo made it three for the visitors. There was late drama as Elano scored his first goal from an 87th minute penalty but Chennaiyin’s pursuit of an equaliser went in vain as Atletico defense held on to help them win the opener. [caption id=“attachment_2453978” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Helder Postiga of Atletico de Kolkata scores the opening goal against Chennaiyin FC. Sportzpics[/caption] Earlier, Elano Blumer, the hero for Chennaiyin last season, made his presence felt as early as the second minute winning a corner. His floated ball found Jeje Lalpekhlua, whose partial header trickled wide. Atletico soon had their first chance in the 4th minute when Iain Hume was lately awarded a free kick 30 yards from the goal. Javier Lara’s shot hit the wall resulting in a yellow card for Harmanjot Khabra for a handball. Lara’s resulting free kick went well over, like most of the other direct set-pieces in the game. Only Jaime Gavilan’s attempt came close, finding the outside of the post. Misfortune struck Chennaiyin in the 13th minute as an innocuous long ball from the right was heading straight to the goalkeeper’s hands. A backtracking Mailson Alves clashed with the oncoming goalkeeper Edel Bete and the ball fell kindly for Postiga who tucked it in calmly. Chennaiyin replied when Elano floated in a ball from midfield and Fikru’s header could only graze off Amrinder Singh. The loose ball was swept in by Jeje Lalpekhlua to make it 1-1. Chennaiyin brought in fan favourite Bernard Mendy for the hapless Mailson Alves at the stroke of half time. But that only helped Kolkata when his misguided header back to the goalkeeper was instead collected by Postiga. The Portuguese calmly slotted in, but was injured in the process of putting his team ahead and had to be stretchered off. Harmanjot Khabra along with rookie Lahlmangaihsanga Ralte had a wonderful game for Chennaiyin while Atletico’s Lara was one of the most entertaining players on the pitch. Ralte was very much composed in all the exchanges while Khabra was ruling the roost in a dynamic Chennaiyin midfield. However, Chennaiyin fell short of chances in the end and will rue not playing the first half like they did the second.