ATK, FC Goa play out entertaining draw

There was no revenge, either for Manuel Lanzarote or Sergio Lobera as ATK and FC Goa were involved in an engaging goalless stalemate in a Indian Super League clash at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan here on Wednesday.

The match was billed as a revenge battle between ATK captain Lanzarote and his former coach at FC Goa.

Both spectacularly fell out during their time in Goa, but neither could exact revenge and prove a point.

The visitors, who started the match on the front foot, had their attack prowess nullified by a resolute ATK defence, which stood firm.

The hosts threatened more as the game wore on but a winner remained elusive for both teams, despite the battle getting heated at times with both battling for full points.

The draw meant ATK remain in sixth position while Goa climb a spot to second. The result also means that ATK are yet to score in two games, while FC Goa have only scored once in two matches, possibly a concern for the visitors.

Goa set the tempo early on with patient passing and prodding, pinning ATK into their own half. Brandon Fernandes surged forward into space through the centre in the seventh minute to create the first opening of the game. He found Jackichand Singh to his right who in turn released Seriton Fernandes into the box but the full-back’s powerful shot could only find the side-netting, leaving him dejected.

Lanzarote then brilliantly chipped the ball into the box to pick out Jayesh Rane’s run in the 11th minute but Goa custodian Mohammad Nawaz rushed out to collect the ball before the winger could pounce.