ATK humbled defending champions Bengaluru FC 3-1 at Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata in the second leg of the semifinal of the Indian Super League 2019-20 season.
The Kolkata side progressed on a 3-2 aggregate to set up a final date with Chennaiyin FC. Chennaiyin had overcome a determined FC Goa on 6-5 aggregate yesterday, despite losing 2-4.
Captain Roy Krishna (30th) brought ATK back into the game before Williams' 63rd minute penalty made it 2-2 on aggregate. Williams then struck a brilliant header in the 79th minute to seal the issue 3-1 in the second leg.
ATK had lost the first leg of the semifinal against Bengaluru FC 0-1. Needing to win by a two-goal margin, ATK started the second leg at home on a bright note in front of a 50,000-plus crowd. But the home side were jolted by an early goal, in the fifth minute. Francisco Borges played a wonderful outside-of-the-foot pass from the midfield to the right flank, where Ashique Kuruniyan controlled the ball, shook off the challenge from Sumit Rathi and coolly put the ball low past ATK Arindam Bhattacharya into the net.
Stung by the early and crucial away goal by Bengaluru, ATK stepped up the attack, but it was Kuruniyan who continued to pose problems down the right with his galloping runs.
Under pressure, Bhattacharya pulled off a stunning save in the 17th minute as Bengaluru FC pressed hard with back-to-back attacks. In the second attack, Kuruniyan's left footer missed the target narrowly in the 19th minute as ATK survived.
With ATK pressing forward, the 22-year-old made good use of the wide open spaces, shooting straight to the goalkeeper in the 25th minute.
On the other end, Prabir Das continued to deliver one cross after another from the right into the Bengaluru box. One such cross in the 23rd minute saw Krishna controlling the ball and playing it to an onrushing fellow striker Williams. But the Australian's first-time shot was parried away by Bengaluru custodian Gurpreet Singh Sandhu.
also read
- ISL 2024-25: Kerala Blasters sack head coach Mikael Stahre
- ISL: Mohun Bagan come on top of Kerala Blasters in five-goal thriller
- Sunil Chhetri is now the oldest hat-trick hero in ISL history!
- ISL: Iker Garrotxena shines against Punjab FC as FC Goa climb to third spot
- ISL: Kaloor fort breached again; Bengaluru FC defeat Kerala Blasters 3-1
Prabir Das's probing runs down the right finally bore fruit in the 30th minute when his low whipping cross saw Krishna poking it past a hapless Sandhu to score the equaliser.
There was a flurry of yellow cards as the first half ended with scores tied 1-1.
The second half saw a spirited ATK attacking right from the word go. Prabir Das was yet again the livewire down the right, but the Bengaluru FC backline defended stoutly.
Against the run of play, ATK were awarded a penalty when Williams was brought down by Suresh Singh Wangjam in the box in the 61th minute.
Williams calmly slotted the ball home, sending Gurpreet the wrong way.
Bengaluru had their chances to outsmart ATK, with Dimas Delgado flicking one on to the post off a Sunil Chhetri flick in the 70th minute. The best chance, however, for the visitors was when Suresh Wangjam whipped in a wonderful ball from the right towards Kevaughn Frater who collected it well inside the box. But, with only Bhattacharya to beat, his shot was brilliantly blocked by the ATK custodian.
Four minutes later, Das and Williams combined once again to put ATK ahead on aggregate.
Jayesh Rane sent Das to the byline down the right-wing and his cross was headed in brilliantly by Williams, beating Gurpreet all ends up.
ATK will now take on Chennaiyin FC—both of who have won the ISL twice—on March 14 in Goa.
