ISL 2018-19: ATK vs Delhi Dynamos FC: All Things Considered

MATCH FACTS

FULL-TIME: ATK 2-1 Delhi Dynamos FC

ATK: 64′ Edu Garcia (Header, Assist: P. Kotal); 89′ 2-1 A. Mukherjee (Assist: Edu Garcia).

Delhi Dynamos: 72′ Nanda Kumar.

MATCH REPORT

ATK finish the season in sixth place and secure qualification for the Super Cup with a win over Delhi Dynamos at the Salt Lake stadium.

Delhi went into tonight’s game on the back of an unbeaten run stretching up to six games. After a poor start to the season, their attractive brand of football finally got them off the bottom rung of the league ladder.

In the first half, Delhi kept most of the possession and got closer to a goal, but lacked the ability to finish. Although Delhi had most of the ball, ATK had control over the game with Komal Thatal troubling the visitors with his direct approach.

Edu Garcia looked good on the ball as usual and ATK were denied a penalty late in the first half after he was brought down in the box by the Delhi defender Marcos Tebar.

Delhi had the only shot on target in the first half as the two teams headed into the half-time break scoreless.

The game came to life in the second half with both teams in an attacking mood. Edu Garcia was the first to get on the score sheet after an inch perfect cross by Pritam Kotal into the box found the Spaniard who headed it home.

Eight minutes later, Delhi cancelled out ATK’s lead. Chhangte’s pass in the box caught a slight deflection and found its way to Nanda Kumar who was unmarked and 10 yards from goal. The former Chennai City winger smashed the ball in to level the scores.

Although they had the bulk of possession, Delhi continued to struggle with the final ball and lost the ball often in the final third. ATK who were sitting deep took advantage of it to launch a few attacks on the counter. They got a second goal almost at the end of regulation time when Edu Garcia crossed the ball into the path of the substitute Ankit Mukherjee who had made a run into the box. Ankit scored with a first-time volleyed finish past an advancing Dorronsoro.

The timing of the goal (89th minute) meant Delhi had little chance to salvage something as the game ended much alike the reverse fixture in terms of the result and the scoreline.

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