SC East Bengal had better ball possession (59 per cent) and better passing accuracy (77 per cent), but ATK Mohun Bagan had the goals. And that is how Antonio Lopez and his boys spoiled Robbie Fowler and SC East Bengal’s ISL debut.

Lopez’s counterattack-centred game plan worked well as ATK Mohun Bagan won the first-ever Calcutta Derby of ISL 2-0 at Tilak Maidan Stadium in Vasco, Goa, on Friday.

East Bengal started the game on an attacking note and created quite a few chances in the first half itself. But ATK Bagan did not crumble under pressure and just waited for the right opportunity. And when opportunity knocked, Roy Krishna and Manvir Singh embraced them with open arms to seal the deal for ATK Bagan.

It’s two out of two now for Antonio’s team. They have not really played sparkling football but have nevertheless done enough to be perched at the top of the league standings. Antonio has successfully infused a certain calmness into his team. They don’t lose confidence when they are dominated, instead show patience.

ATK Bagan drew first blood just four minutes after the change of ends. Krishna once again courted history becoming the first to score in an ATK Bagan-SC East Bengal Derby in the ISL. Jayesh Rane unleashed a through ball to Francisco Javier Hernandez from the left. Hernandez got past a rival defender and passed it to Krishna, who was stationed right at the edge of the box. The Fijian took his time and then hit a powerful left-footed grounder to score.

SC East Bengal goalkeeper Debjit Majumder’s outstretched hands couldn’t reach the ball, but then it’s debatable whether he positioned himself rightly under the bar.

SC East Bengal toiled hard for the equaliser but they lacked precision in front of the goal. Substitute Manvir took the game beyond SC East Bengal’s reach when he scored ATK Bagan’s second in the 85th minute.

Manvir Singh in action on Friday. Picture courtesy: ISL

Following a pass from Prabir Das from the right, Manvir embarked on a solo effort, first working his way past Narayan Das and then creating enough space for himself inside the box to shoot a powerful left-footer that was bang on target.

ATK Mohun Bagan’s principal owner Sanjiv Goenka was pleased with the Derby success. “I am delighted that the first Calcutta Derby (of ISL) has gone ATK Mohun Bagan’s way. It’s the result of the fantastic effort put in by the coach and the players,” Goenka said.