Kochi: Well begun is not always enough as Kerala Blasters showed by scoring in the sixth minute of their second ISL match before losing 2-5 to a resilient ATK Mohun Bagan at a packed Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium here on Sunday. ATK’s Australian forward Dimitri Petratos scored a hat-trick – all three tap-ins – to humble high-flying Blasters who had made a dream start to the season with a 3-1 win over East Bengal.
Blasters’ Ukrainian attacker Ivan Kaliuzhnyi had continued his fairytale start to life in the ISL by building on his brace from the East Bengal match with an early goal. ATK had been shaken because the goal was the outcome of relentless pressure piled upon by the hosts.
But the visitors regrouped soon after, moulding into a shape that would scuttle the Blasters’ fluid set up. Juan Ferrando switched to a back-four and allowed Liston Colaco more freedom up front with Ashique Kuruniyan playing behind.
The efficiency of the ATK machinery had not quite revealed itself to Ivan Vukomanovic’s team as they kept up their pressing game; left-back Jessel Carneiro remained out of position and Khabra marking the pacy Colaco.
Then it came, a moment of sloppiness from Hormipam, the young Blasters defender, who lacked the wherewithal to press a wily Boumous, but committed himself to a challenge, and lost. The stylish ATK attacker strode past him and pulled back for Petratos to open his account.
The alarm bells had been rung, but the home crowd kept up their noise. That was before Jessel was left biting the dust by Manvir before releasing Joni Kauko with a delectable through ball. The finish from the Finnish midfielder packed a punch and it took the life out of the home crowd that soon plunged into a state of shock.
Now, the Blasters were shaken. It was their turn to stir up their sunken minds and regroup. But they failed and ATK tightened the grip. Colaco had a field day in the second half, he positioned himself – between the Blasters two-man midfield that was now much higher up the pitch – and a scattered defence.
Shortly after the hour, Colaco and Boumous exchanged passes and the former selflessly fed Petratos, who couldn’t miss another gentle tap in.
A pair of substitutions had done the trick for the Blasters against East Bengal, one of which was local boy Rahul K P. His introduction after ATK’s third goal gave the hosts hope. Yet it was a hopeful cross from the young Thrissur attacker that truly made them believe in a comeback. Rahul’s attempt to find a teammate in the box resulted in a goal when ATK goalkeeper Vishal Kaith let it roll between his legs.
Just when a glimmer of hope surfaced, ATK changed tact; they sat back and waited for the counter. And the chances came, one after another. Veteran holding midfielder Lenny Rodrigues who had been summoned to kill off the game, did just that with a goal on the break. Petratos was the beneficiary of another break soon after.
Blasters next play Odisha FC in an way tie next Sunday (October 23), while ATK MB return to the comfort of their home to take on arch-rivals East Bengal on October 29.
Result: Kerala Blasters 2 (Ivan Kaliuzhnyi 6, Rahul KP 81) lost to ATK MB 5 (Petratos 26, 62, 90, Kauko 38, Lenny 88).