Goa: Powers of recovery! Big match players stepping up! Everything in one go as ATK Mohun Bagan came from 0-2 down to beat Kerala Blasters 3-2 on Sunday in Fatorda. Roy Krishna scored a brace for ATKMB and Marcelinho Leite scored on debut. For Kerala, it was Gary Hooper and Costa Nhamoinesu. This victory keeps them in hunt for the top spot with the league leaders Mumbai City FC.
The match started in a very unfamiliar fashion as Kerala were totally dominating the attack giving little space for the opposition. Hooper opened the scoring with a 30-yard volley. The goal will go down as one of the best goals of the season.
ATKMB were lacking suppliers in the middle of the park as Edu Garcia and David Williams were out due to injury and the young boys like SK Sahil and Sumith Rathi found it difficult to cope up with the pace of Kerala.
Antonio Lopez Habas made two attacking substitutions in the second half by bringing in Manvir Singh and Pronoy Halder in place of Sahil and Rathi. But Kerala struck again in the 51st minute through Costa.
When everyone thought that the match has been settled with Kerala, stepped in their Brazilian loanee Marcelinho. He scored in the 59th minute and the game just turned on. In the 65th minute, ATKMB earned a penalty and Krishna converted from the spot. Krishna put the final nail in the coffin in the 87th minute.
