Atletico de Kolkata dented the pride and proficiency of FC Goa with a 4-0 hammering in a Hero ISL fixture at the Salt Lake Stadium here on Sunday. South African winger Sameehg Doutie caused the maximum damage scoring once in each half while Spaniard Borja Fernandez and Canadian Iain Hume found the target once each to complete the biggest win margin for the host.
Doutie was the real hero of the match as he figured in all the four goals as the host brought FC Goa crashing down from its high of a record 7-0 win over Mumbai City FC in its previous match.
The win took ATK to the top of the table with 20 points from 12 matches while Goa remained second with 18 from 11.
Two flashes of brilliance — in the 20th and 22nd minutes — defined ATK’s dominance of ATK. Doutie, who has confirmed his position in the home attack with a series of consistent performances in the last few rounds, showed his knack for goal when he fetched the lead with a nice finish.
The nippy South African winger got in position at the top of the Goa box to receive a pass from ATK play-maker Jamie Gavilan and shot home before the opposition defender and Brazilian World Cup winner Lucio could cover his attempt.
Then Fernandez, relegated mostly to a protective role in the ATK midfield, made a calculated outing from his post to reach a back-pass from Doutie. The Spaniard, who last scored in the first match of the inaugural season, found the top of the Goa net with rasping right-footer giving opposition goalkeeper Laxmikant Kattimani no scope for a save.
The decision to preserve the team’s shape proved right for ATK coach Antonio Habas, who made only a couple of changes in the side that had prevailed over Chennaiyin FC at the same venue.
Bringing back the reliable Ofentse Nato for Valdo in the midfield, Habas also played local boy Mohammad Rafique for Izumi Arata in the starting line-up.
After Goa made a couple of counter-attacks through Dudu Omagbemi in the first 10 minutes, ATK took charge with Gavilan, Hume and Doutie showing fine coordination in the attacking-third of the field.
Goa coach Zico, who planned the resistance of his side on Lucio’s reputation in the deep defence, was foxed by the effective passing game that ATK produced. The change of ends did not mitigate the vistors’ suffering as they struggled to contain Doutie and Gavilan in the centre.
Hume realised the third — off a penalty — when Doutie was stopped unlawfully inside the Goa box by defender Nicolau Colaco. It was Hume’s sixth goal of the tournament.
ATK completed its dominance in the 78th when Nato’s long ball from near the centre-line found Doutie, who deftly received the ball and cleared a cordon of three Goa defenders, including Lucio, to make it a fantastic goal in the end.
The result: Atletico de Kolkata 4 (Sameehg Doutie 20, 78, Borja Fernandes 22, Iain Hume 66-pen) bt FC Goa 0.
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