Defending champion > Atletico de Kolkata will seek to preserve the momentum gained from its last away venture, when its hosts the rival from neighbouring Assam — NorthEast United FC — in the eighth round of the Hero ISL at the Salt Lake Stadium on Saturday.
The home side seemed to have regained the mood of festivity having >convincingly downed a strong Mumbai City FC 4-1 in the latter’s home barely five days ago. This rescued it from the depths of despair that was brought about by a sequence of three successive losses.
Known for his adaptability and resilience, ATK coach Antonio Habas seems to have found a solution that bailed his team out of the crisis.
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In the absence of his star striker Helder Postiga, the Spanish coach found little success with Iain Hume, who could not score in the team’s first six outings as the lone striker in the 4-2-3-1 formation.
As if spurred by desperation, the Canadian striker scored a hat-trick against Mumbai and gave ATK its biggest win in the tournament so far.
“He showed he is a good player and that is good news for the team,” Habas said about Hume’s performance. “What is important for us now is to improve the team work and keep the shape together,” the Spaniard added.
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The attacking options were limited for ATK as it seemed to suffered cramps in the creative zone leaving Hume alone in a crowd of defenders.
The likes of South African Sameehg Doutie and Jewel Raja have done a good job as attacking halves along with Spaniard Jaime Gavilan and helped ATK make a strong return. Habas said his attacking has been further enhanced by the return of Izumi Arata from injury.
NorthEast United FC had beaten ATK 1-0 hosting it in the fifth round in Guwahati.
NEUFC is in rebuilding mode having drafted in Argentine Carlos Javier Lopez and Cameroonian Andre Bikey as replacements for the injured Kondwani Mtonga and Miguel Garcia.
The availability of its Portuguese marquee player Simao Sabrosa, who scored the spectacular equaliser against Dynamos, also brings optimism in Farias’s bid to secure the first ‘away’ win.