Former Indian Super League champions ATK rode on Hitesh Sharma’s early strike to pip Mohammedan Sporting by a solitary goal in a rain-interrupted 129th Durand Cup at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata on Friday, PTI reported.
The result also meant that 16-time champions Mohun Bagan sealed a semi-final berth from the group with a match in hand. Mohun Bagan, who lead group B table with six points, face Indian Navy (one point) in their last group fixture on Saturday. Sharma set the pace with his second-minute goal after the match began half an hour late because of heavy downpour.
Three minutes later, Mohammedan had a chance to equalise but a Vanlalbiaa Chhangte’s shot from Kouassi’s beautiful through ball hit the crossbar.
Credit should also be given to ATK’s goalkeeper Avilash Paul who stood tall under the bar with a couple of fine saves to deny their Kolkata rivals any chance of a comeback. Mohammedan Sporting got two quick chances in the 47th minute but Paul held steady to clear the first attempt before Prabir Das made a beautiful goalline save.
Mohammedan Sporting squandered a chance to equalise in the 78th minute when Firoj Ali’s powerful shot sailed high over the cross-bar.
This was the two-time ISL champions’ first victory in the tournament, but it came only in their last group B league outing as they bowed with four points from three matches. Mohammedan Sporting, who had hammered Indian Navy 6-2 six days back, also finished with three points from as many matches.
Earlier, former Indian Super League champions Chennaiyin FC were leading 1-0 against I-League debutants TRAU FC when the match was called off in the 15th minute because of heavy lightning and thundershowers at the Sailen Manna Stadium in Howrah.
N Joysana Singh gave Chennaiyin FC the lead in the eighth minute after RC Aimol set it up with a measured pass from the right flank. The group D match will resume from 10 am on Saturday.