Kochi: Dimitri Petratos scored the first hattrick of Indian Super League 2022-23 season as ATK Mohun Bagan crush host Kerala Blasters FC. The Mariners scratched away with 5-2 against the Manjappadas at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi.
Ivan Kaliuzhnyi put Kerala Blasters in the lead in just six minutes of the game. The early pressure worked well as the Ukrainian combined with Sahal Samad to beat Vishal Kaith at the near post. However the happiness lasted for 20 minutes. Hugo Boumous sprinted down past Ruivah Hormipam along the left flank to put it on plate for Dimitri Petratos, who tapped in the equaliser.
Statement made by Dimitri Petratos! 💪
The hat-trick hero was delighted after the Mariners' impressive win against #KeralaBlasters! 🔥#KBFCATKMB #HeroISL #LetsFootball #ATKMohunBagan #DimitriPetratos | @atkmohunbaganfc pic.twitter.com/c08zEqyCcX
— Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) October 16, 2022
In the 38th minute, Manvir Singh found Joni Kauko speeding towards the Blasters’ box. Kauoka smashed the ball into the nets with a precise pass from Manvir. The ATK Mohun Bagan box became frantic at the hour mark as Hamill intercepted Samad’s cross for Carneiro. However, the defender’s header struck the crossbar and rebounded into play before Dimitrios Diamantakos’ effort at an overhead kick was unsuccessful. Before Kaliuzhnyi declared it out, the ball remained in play.
Two minutes later, Boumous played another fantastic pass to Colaco at the other end. The winger sprinted into the penalty area and passed the ball into Petratos’ path, who hammered it home to create a two-goal cushion. In the 71st minute, Boumous was replaced by Florentin Pogba as the Mariners went on the defensive to preserve their advantage.
An error by Vishal Kaith nine minutes before the end of regulation allowed Rahul Kannoly Praveen to restore parity. The Blasters were able to get back into the game when Rahul’s cross from the right side took a tiny deflection, crept past Kaith’s gloves, and went in between his legs.
A ⚽⚽⚽⚽⚽⚽⚽ goal thriller, which included a Dimitri Petratos hat-trick at Kochi sees @atkmohunbaganfc extend their unbeaten run against @KeralaBlasters with a 5️⃣-2️⃣ win! 🔥#KBFCATKMB #HeroISL #LetsFootball #ATKMohunBagan #KeralaBlasters pic.twitter.com/0FMeWHJs4L
— Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) October 16, 2022
Any chances created by the Blasters was destroyed by ATK Mohun Bagan when substitute Lenny Rodrigues pounced on a faulty Jeakson pass in midfield and created a counterattack. Two minutes before the end, the Australian returned possession of the ball to Rodrigues, who then scored. A little while later, Rodrigues launched another attack by passing a superb ball to Colaco, who then sent it directly into Petratos’s path. In stoppage time of the second half, the striker finished off a well-earned hat trick by tapping it in from close range.
