The playoff race in ISL IX is down to one available spot after ATK Mohun Bagan came from behind to register a 2-1 win against Kerala Blasters at the Salt Lake Sadium on Saturday.
ATKMB’s win lifted them to third, dropped the Blasters to fifth, and confirmed their playoff qualification this season.
The Mariners trailed after Dimitrios Diamantakos opened the scoring but a Carl McHugh brace on either side of a Blasters sending off completed the turnaround.
The game got off to an energetic start with ATKMB welcoming Ashique Kuruniyan and Hugo Boumous back into the starting lineup.
Inside the first five minutes, both players stated their intent by registering the first two attempts on goal for the hosts.
Kerala Blasters were without the suspended Adrian Luna and added an additional striker in Apostolos Giannou to the starting lineup alongside Diamantakos.
The duo had opportunities of their own, Diamantakos rippling the outside of the net in the opening couple of minutes before Giannou’s glancing header from Bryce Miranda’s freekick was saved comfortably by Vishal Kaith.
In Hyderabad, a seven-minute triple-goal burst in the first half helped Jamshedpur FC beat Hyderabad FC 3-2 despite playing most of the second half with 10 men.
