Goa: ATK Mohun Bagan needed a hero and they got it in the name of David Williams. The indigenous Australian’s late strike sealed the deal for ATKMB against Chennaiyin FC on Thursday at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Fatorda.
The match was important in every way as ATKMB wanted to win the match to be in the top two race with Mumbai City FC and for Chennai had to win to keep their chances in the top four alive.
The match started slowly as both the team were playing tactical football. ATKMB came close to open the scoring after Manvir Singh’s pass just missed incoming Roy Krishna. On the other had, Chennai missed their half chances in the first half.
In the first minute of the second half, Chennai came close to take the lead but ATKMB defenders successfully guarded their fortress.
Antonio Lopez Habas has been a prolific coach as he brought in Williams in the second half in place of Carl McHugh. It was clear that his intent was to win the match by any means.
Williams started to open up the Chennai defence which looked rock solid. He started to link up with Edu Garcia and Javi Hernandez and ATKMB started to take a toll on the match. Javi’s free-kick in the 78th minute was brilliantly stopped by Vishal Kaith and denied ATKMB of the crucial lead.
But the late show in the ISL 7 continued as Williams tucked in the only goal in the 90th minute from a Javi corner which eventually settled the matter for ATKMB.
Tiri made the all important goal-line clearance in the last minute, a rock-solid show from the Spaniard helped his side to get full three points out of the match.
