Roy Krishna breaks Odisha hearts to take ATK Mohun Bagan on top

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:11 am

Roy Krishna of ATK Mohun Bagan in action against Jamshedpur FC.
Roy Krishna of ATK Mohun Bagan in action against Jamshedpur FC.
Pal Pillai/Focus Sports/ ISL

Roy Krishna was the hero again for ATK Mohun Bagan as his 95th-minute header helped Antonio Habas' side grab a dramatic late win over Odisha FC in the Indian Super League (ISL) on Thursday. The win helped ATKMB go top of the table, stretching their unbeaten start to the 2020-21 season, and third straight clean sheet. Stuart Baxter's Odisha are yet to get a win, and with two defeats and one draw so far, remain 10th in the table.  

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Few chances fell to either side in a cagey first half, but Roy Krishna came close in the 24th minute, getting at the end of a Tiri ball from the deep, only to shoot high. Despite seeing less of the ball, Odisha had the best chance of the first half in the 35th minute, but defender Jacob Tratt's free header from close range was wide.

The game opened up in the second half as ATKMB began to impose themselves a little more, but the first shot on target came from Odisha as Diego Maurício forced a save from Arindam Bhattacharya with his right footed shot. ATKMB nearly took the lead in the 55th minute, when Cole Alexander's scuffed clearance ended up into his own net. However, the goal wasn't given as Manvir Singh was adjudged to have handled the ball in the build-up.

Cole Alexander nearly caught the winner for Odisha at the other end in the 83rd minute, forcing a sharp save with a shot from outside of the box following a flowing move on the break. With the game well stretched in the closing stages, Bradden Inman also had a shot moments later, but his effort went straight to Odisha keeper Kamaljit Singh.

The winner came in the final minute of second-half injury time, when a free-kick taken from inside ATKMB's own half found Sandesh Jhingan in the right side of the Odisha box. The defender's headed pass found Krishna, who got ahead of his marker and flicked the ball in to beat the keeper at the near post.

ATKMB next face Jamshedpur FC on December 7, while Odisha face Sergio Lobera's Mumbai City FC on December 6.

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