KOLKATA: During their stint at Wellington Phoenix, good friends
David Williams and Roy Krishna had shared many a thought including a move to India.
The two — who were instrumental in the Phoenix’s march to the elimination final of the A-League — rekindled their on-field chemistry at
Salt Lake Stadium
on Friday to help
ATK launch their home campaign of ISL-6 in style.
Williams hit a brace and Krishna added another as ATK gave newcomers
Hyderabad FC
(HFC) a lesson in attacking
football
on way to clinching the contest 5-0. Second-half substitute
Edu Garcia
put the icing on the cake, finding the back of the net twice in six minutes to help Antonio Lopez Habas’ side brush aside the disappointment of defeat in the campaign opener against Kerala Blasters. It was their biggest win in the tournament’s history, surpassing the 4-0 margin against FC Goa at the same venue in 2015.
HFC coach Phil Brown had remarked on the eve of the match that their first four games will shape the identity of his team. However, on the evidence of their debut in Indian football, the former Hull City coach has an onerous job on hand.
Much of FC Pune City’s poor campaign last season was accentuated by their defensive frailties. Although the team has been ‘reborn’ under a new management and from a new base, the same issues continue to plague the side.
The early exit of Spanish defender Rafael Gomez — who pulled a hamstring and limped out after 15 minutes — hampered their plans as ATK attackers were allowed space and time to put Hyderabad under pressure from the outset.
The hosts fired a warning when Michael Soosairaj’s curled one delectably, only to strike the woodwork.
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