Chennaiyin FC registered a comeback to beat ATK Mohun Bagan.
Chennaiyin FC stunned heavyweights ATK Mohun Bagan 2-1 in their Indian Super League opening match in Kolkata on Monday. Bagan went ahead in the 27th minute through India international Manvir Singh. But Chennaiyin came back through goals from Kwame Karikari (62nd minutes, penalty) and Rahim Ali (82nd minute).Debjit Majumdar made two crucial saves to keep the scoreboard unchanged in the initial quarter of the action.
The Chennaiyin goalkeeper, who previously played both for Mohun Bagan and ATK before going down south, first cleared a shot from the ATK Mohun Bagan striker Dimitri Petratos in the fifth minute before coming to his team’s rescue again in the 15th minute to block an effort from Ashique Kuruniyan.Chennaiyin equalised in the 64th minute after Karikari was felled down by the ATKMB goalkeeper Vishal Kaith. Karikari himself scored from the spot to instil the confidence of plotting a win in his colleagues. Encouraged by the equaliser, Chennaiyin did well in keeping up the pressure on ATK Mohun Bagan with repeated attacks.
Karikari set up the win in the 83rd win as he moved in from the right on getting a pass from another substitute Edwin Vanspaul and found Rahim Ali, who was advancing from the left, with a cut-back. Ali finished with a curling shot to find the net and ensured three points for Chennaiyin FC.The match was held up for around 10 minutes from the 53rd minute as a portion of the stadium floodlights went off.
