Clinical ATK punish wasteful Mumbai City FC

ATK brought Mumbai City FC's six-game unbeaten run to an end with a 2-0 win in Indian Super League here on Saturday. First-half goals from Pronay Halder (29') and Michael Soosairaj (43') were eugh as Mumbai City were left to rue chances y missed at Mumbai Football Arena. win sees ATK draw level on points (21) at top of table with FC Goa while Mumbai City are placed fourth (16).

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Both goal-keepers tested early in contest

A frantic start to match saw both goalkeepers tested early in game. Mumbai custodian Amrinder Singh had to get down smartly to keep out a long-ranger from Jayesh Rane in third minute, while Diego Carlos stung ATK goalkeeper Arindam Bhattacharya's palms with a good effort from inside box minutes later.

Mumbai continued to trouble ATK defence as game wore on with Mohammed Larbi and Amine Chermiti going close in quick succession. pick of chances, though, went to Modou Sougou after Carlos fed Chermiti down left. Moroccan's cutback from byline was sent straight at Arindam by Sougou.

ATK saw off that spell of pressure and started to make inroads of ir own. Roy Krishna shot agonizingly wide in 22nd minute after a lovely reverse pass from Rane found him in inside box.ATK were t to be denied in 29th minute when Javier Hernandez and Roy Krishna combined delightfully to send David Williams into penalty box. Australian had presence of mind to pick out an onrushing Pronay Halder who slotted it into net.

celebrations, though, were soured by an injury that Halder picked up, with Antonio Habas forced to send in Michael Soosairaj in place of goalscorer. That move paid off handsomely in 43rd minute when Soosairaj found himself in possession down left-wing. 

He went on to place a sensational curler into far corner to double ATK's advant at break. A stung Mumbai City showed greater urgency in second half as y sought a way back into game. As Jorge Costa's men mounted pressure on ATK's defence, likes of Roy Krishna and Soosairaj were finding s to run too. One such move saw Soosairaj twist and turn Pratik Chaudhury, before picking out Krishna at near post. But his first-time volley from close range rattled back of crossbar.

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Mumbai run out of luck

Mumbai, at or end, had luck eir. Sougou did find back of net in 68th minute but effort was chalked out for offside. Islanders continued to pepper ATK goal with attempts but saw chances go begging, thanks to a combination of last-ditch defending and poor finishing. Chermiti was denied in 74th minute after a desperate goal-line clearance following a scramble inside box. Mumbai continued to pour forward desperately but lady luck did t shine on m. Sougou thought he had a goal in 82nd minute when Arindam spilled a ball and he turned it in, but referee disallowed it for a foul on goalkeeper. Minutes later, Serge Kevyn headed wide from point-blank range.

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