Defending champions Atletico de Kolkata handed a 4-0 rout to FC Goa to climb atop the table and put one step in the semifinals after a one-sided Indian Super League (ISL) clash, here today.
The chief architect of ATK's splendid win was the South African medio Samheeg Doutie who produced a stunning brace (20th and 78th), beside setting up captain Borja Fernandez (22nd) with a superb assist at the Vivekananda Yuva Bharati Krirangan.
Former Canada International Iain Hume (68t) struck from a penalty to bring up his sixth goal of the season after Doutie was brought down inside the box.
The win shoot ATK to the top of the table with 20 points, two clear of the Zico's brigade who in their last outing secured a record 7-0 win in Mumbai.
For Goa, it was their second loss by an identical scoreline as they had lost to Chennai 0-4 at home earlier.
Having won 7-0 at home Goans were high on confidence but ATK coach Antonio Habas had yesterday reminded the visitors that "it was history and anything can happen in football".
Habas' boys lived up to the coach's words as they did not allow an inch to the Goans and kept their invincible record intact.
For the record, ATK have never lost to FCG as they have so far won thrice and drew the remaining.
Earlier, the rampaging Goans on a high after their record win against Mumbai were off to a brisk start as Leo Moura and Dudu Omagbemi getting back to back chances to start the match.
Capitalising on a shaky defence from Mondal who had faltered in the beginning, Moura failed to keep his shot down inside the box as the ball sailed behind.
Four minutes later, FCG had a good opportunity with Dudu up front as the Nigerian intercepted Mondal's back pass before launching a powerful shot into the far post where ATK goalkeeper Amrinder Singh did well to thwart his effort to give the packed home fans some sigh of relief.
Soon the tables turned in favour of the home team, as they slowly took control of the game with the trio of Jaime Gavilan, Sameehg Doutie, and Iain Hume producing some neat display up front.
In the 14th minute, Hume surged past the FCG defence and brilliantly centred it for an advancing Doutie but the South African failed to get hold of it in front of the goal.
Allowing FCG little breathing space, Gavilan evaded Jonatan in the same move and played it for the Canadian International Hume whose effort just missed the far post.
Having raised their game and denying the Goans any possession, it was time for some fireworks as the Doutie put the home team into the lead before assisting another to double the lead in less than two minutes.
It was the Spanish medio Gavilan who set up the goal from a thow-in as Doutie dribbled through the Goan defence to put into the far corner, and what followed were his acrobatic somersaults to loud cheers from the home team.
Before it could sink in, the diminutive Doutie dished out another gem, this time with his swift tackle, as he turned around and returned the ball to his captain from a Gavilan corner.
Waiting on the edge of the box, Fernandez blasted it with his powerful rightfooter into the top left corner to virtually seal the match for them.
This was the former Real Madrid player's only second goal in the ISL, having scored his first goal in the franchise- based tournament's opener versus Mumbai.
ATK almost tripled the lead three minutes later but Mohammad Rafique made a mess of a fine set up by Fernandez.
It was a one-way traffic for ATK from then on as after the changeover, FCG conceded a penalty after Nicolau Colaco brought down Doutie inside the box.
In the 78th minute, Doutie made a good run in behind and latched onto Ofentse Nato's pass before rolling the ball into the empty net to bring up his brace and complete the rout.
Both teams made a couple of changes to their starting lineup.
Nato and Mohammed Rafique replaced Arata Izumi and Valdo. For FC Goa, Mandar Dessai and Romeo Fernandes were replaced by Narayan Das and Nicolau Colaco.
