ISL 2017-18: ATK avoid embarrassment of last-place finish with victory over NorthEast United

Kolkata: An early goal from caretaker coach and captain Robbie Keane helped ATK defeat North East United FC 1-0 in their concluding league clash of the Indian Super League in Kolkata on Sunday. Having struggled to replicate the good performance of the previous seasons, two-time champions ATK needed a win to avoid a bottom-place finish, and Keane’s well-taken goal in the 10th minute ensured just that at Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan. [caption id=“attachment_4376071” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] ATK saw off NorthEast United in the final game of the league phase of this season’s ISL. Image Courtesy: ISL[/caption] As for NEUFC, it was yet another night where things could have gone their way. After a sluggish start to the game, ATK went ahead with the first good bit of play in the game. In the 10th minute, Conor Thomas put in a delightful ball over the top of the defenders to pick up Keane, who brought it down before poking it past goalkeeper TP Rehenesh. Shortly after going a goal down, NorthEast had the ball in the back of the net courtesy John Mosquera but it was ruled offside. NorthEast kept piling on the pressure on ATK for most part of the first phase of play. In the 36th minute, Mosquera should have put the visitors on level terms after being put through on goal by Helio Pinto. The Colombian forward, however, delayed taking his shot, giving goalkeeper Soram Poirei an opportunity to block his effort. In the second half, both sides made a slow start. At the hour mark, ATK came close to doubling their lead after Sibongakonke Mbatha made a darting run inside the NorthEast penalty box, but his effort went just wide of the goal. At the other end, the visitors failed to create the chances they had managed to do in the first half. In the dying moments of the game, NorthEast came close again. Marcinho’s 87th-minute freekick looked destined to be headed in by Danilo Lopez but the forward somehow failed to connect.