ATK Mohun Bagan rode Liston Colaco’s brilliant show to climb to the second spot after they beat wooden spooners NorthEast United FC 3-1 in an ISL VIII match at the Nehru Stadium in Fatorda on Saturday.
Suhair VP (17th) gave NEUFC the lead early on before Joni Kauko (22nd) drew level only for Liston (45th) to make it 2-1 just before half-time. Liston was all over NEUFC in the second half as he fed Manvir Singh (52nd) for the team’s third goal before making way for Kiyan Nassiri in the 66th minute to cap off another brilliant night.
The result means ATK Mohun Bagan are now on 26 points from 14 games, two adrift of leaders Hyderabad FC who have played two matches more. NEUFC remained rock bottom with 10 points from 17 games. ATK Mohun Bagan extended their unbeaten streak to 10 matches.
ATK Mohun Bagan missed the services of key players Hugo Boumous and Carl McHugh as both picked up injuries in the last game.
As expected, ATK Mohun Bagan started on the front foot with Colaco’s early corner posing threat and Manvir Singh’s effort saved by Subhasish Roy Choudhury.
Against the run of play, NEUFC took the lead. Marcelinho got a loose ball in the middle of the park and ran at the ATK Mohun Bagan defence to find Suhair who rifled home from the edge of the box.
ATK Mohun Bagan got back in the game soon after cutting short NEUFC’s joy as Kauko scored from outside the area after being set up by Colaco with no NorthEast United shirt closing the Finland international down.
Suhair tried to double his lead but shot over before Pritam Kotal drilled a free header wide from a corner. Just before half-time, ATK Mohun Bagan took the lead riding a Colaco strike, his seventh goal of the season. Kauko turned provider this time, laying the ball up for Colaco who slammed the ball into the bottom right corner.
ATK Mohun Bagan moved up a gear in the second period, Manvir finding the back of the net as early as the 52nd minute. Colaco snatched possession to send Manvir in the clear and the latter cut back and slotted home past Subhashish.
