ATKMB win, seal ISL playoff berth

KOLKATA: After blowing hot and cold in the business end of the Indian Super League, ATK Mohun Bagan settled their nerves, beating a 10-man Kerala Blasters 2-1 at the Salt Lake Stadium on Saturday and qualifying for the playoffs with just one round to go.
Carl McHugh was the star of the match, scoring both goals and helping his team pip the visitors to the third place.ATKMB, Blasters and Bengaluru FC are all on 31 points each but Juan Ferrando’s side is ahead of them thanks to a better goal difference.
Kerala Blasters had to play the final half an hour with 10 men after Rahul KP received his marching order from referee Rahul Kumar Gupta for earning his second booking in the 64th minute.
During their recent lean patch of run, ATKMB have managed just one win in six matches in 2023 before hosting Kerala Blasters.
Ferrando’s side was in for an early shock when Blasters took the lead on the back of an exquisite move in the 16th minute. Ivan Kaliuzhnyi relayed the ball to Apostolos Giannou inside the box and the latter instantly laid it off for Dimitrios Diamantakos to come up with a powerful finish.
Ferrando, who started without an off-colour Liston Colaco, needed reaction from his players and McHugh stood up and was counted immediately.
Dimitri Petratos whipped in a well-measured free-kick and McHugh found time and space to nod home the equalizer in the 23rd minute.
Blasters attacker Rahul was booked for a nasty challenge on Hugo Boumous, returning to action after an injury layoff as ATKMB tried to impose themselves on the match.
Ferrando replaced Boumous with Federico Gallego .
Rahul then earned his second yellow and expulsion, committing an avoidable foul on Ashique Kuruniyan soon after the hour mark.
ATKMB came calling again and McHugh turned the saviour once again. Following Asish Rai’s cross, Manvir left it perfectly for McHugh to unleash a one-time shot which gave Blasters goalkeeper Prabhsukhan Gill no chance in the 71st minute.
SATURDAY’S RESULTS
In Kolkata: ATKMB 2 (McHugh 23, 71) Kerala Blasters 1 (Diamantakos 16). In Hyderabad: Hyderabad FC 2 (Ogbeche 12, 79) Jamshedour FC 3 (Ritwik Das 22, Jay Thomas 26 pen, Daniel CHukwu 29).