Postiga brace fires Atletico

Chennai, October 3

Portuguese striker Helder Postiga scored twice as defending champions Atletico de Kolkata (ATK) started their campaign with a 3-2 win over Chennaiyin FC in the opener of the Indian Super League (ISL) here tomorrow.

Postiga showed his predatory skills with two opportunistic strikes in the 13th and 70th minutes, while substitute Spanish striker Valmiro Rocha Valdo also found his name on the scoresheet.

For Chennaiyin FC, Jeje Lalpeklhua hit one in the 31st minute while skipper Elano Blumer scored a controversial second late in the game when the referee awarded a penalty with the ball rebounding off ATK stopper Arnab Mondal’s stomach.

However, there was some bad news for the ATK fans as Postiga might just be out for a week to 10 days after he pulled a hamstring while scoring the second goal and had to be carried off the field.

ATK skipper Borja Fernandes said: “Postiga is an important player and I hope that his injury is not serious.”

Iain Hume was a livewire down the left flank as he tormented Chennaiyin fullback Avishek Das.

In fact, all the three goals conceded by Chennaiyin were due to defensive lapses. In the 13th minute, Fernandes sent a floater into the box and Chennaiyin goalkeeper Edel Bete collided with Mailson Alves, leaving Postiga with an open net and the scorer of 27 international goals did not disappoint.

In the 31st minute, Elano sent in a cross for Fikru Teferra which was intercepted by goalkeeper Amrinder Singh but as the two collided, an unmarked Jeje slotted the ball home.

The second half was played on an even keel till the 70th minute when Frenchman Bernard Mendy’s header towards his own goalkeeper gave ATK the lead. Mendy’s back pass was collected by Postiga, who did his spadework past a defender and then made it 2-1 with a neat placement. But as soon as he scored the goal he fell on the ground and was seen writhing in pain.

His replacement Valmiro Rocha Valdo also celebrated his first outing on Indian soil with a headed finish when Hume sent a perfectly measured cross from the left. — PTI