Margao: Uruguayan Federico Gallego scored a spectacular goal and provided an assist to help NorthEast United beat ATK Mohun Bagan 2-1 in an Indian Super League match here on Tuesday.
Gallego had a part to play in Luis Machado's opener (60th) before Roy Krishna (72nd) equalised for the Mariners. Gallego's 81st minute curler settled things for NorthEast.
The first half was a cagey affair, illustrated by the fact that both teams had only one shot on target each at the end of it.
NorthEast stuck to defending their area and did not have too many completed passes in the opposition half. ATKMB had their first chance in as early as the eighth minute. Krishna found Javi Hernandez through a cut-back but the midfielder's shot was wide.
It was ATKMB who kept more of the ball and looked the more threatening throughout the first half, but NorthEast did have their chances.
Just after the half-hour-mark, ATKMB keeper Arindam Bhattacharja was forced to make a save after Machado received the ball from Gallego and took a shot.
The Mariners nearly went ahead at the stroke of half time as David Williams, after getting the ball from Hernandez, tried to find the onrushing Prabir Das, who missed it by inches.
The opening goal came in controversial circumstances. ATKMB defender Tiri gave away the ball cheaply as it bounced off Gallego and ran loose behind the defence. Tiri found himself in a race with Machado to get to the ball first. The Spaniard, though, took a tumble under pressure from Machado and the linesman's flag went straight up.
Referee Crystal John, however, did not stop play and Machado duly slotted it past Arindam. Despite vigorous protests by ATKMB players, John allowed the goal after consulting the linesman.
NorthEast nearly doubled their lead soon when Gallego curled in a wonderful cross across the face of the goal. Mashoor Shereef was able to get on the end of it, but his looped header struck the post and bounced back into the play.
However, the lead lasted just over ten minutes as a low ball from Carl McHugh outside the box found Krishna unmarked at the far post. The Fijian was never going to miss a simple tap in.
After the goal, it looked like ATKMB would go on to find the winner, but Gallego had other plans. With just under ten minutes left, the Uruguayan curled one from outside the box and it went in after bouncing off the upright.
There was a late penalty call for ATKMB after Krishna went down in the box under pressure from NEUFC keeper Subhasish Roy, but the referee awarded a goal kick.
