(Football news) ATK Mohun Bagan narrowly defeated NorthEast United 3-2 at the PJN Stadium in Fatorda on Monday in Juan Ferrando’s first game in charge as head coach. Having previously coached FC Goa, Ferrando took over ATK Mohun Bagan after Antonio Lopez Habas was let go of last week. The start was far from ideal for Ferrando’s side as V.P. Suhair gave NorthEast United FC an early lead in the 2nd minute when Mathias Coureur’s floating ball found the head of the 29 year old who found the back of the net.

Having endured the early setback, ATK Mohun Bagan attempted to level the scoring and should have done so but Manvir Singh’s effort went over the bar from a shot inside the box. Roy Krishna also had a couple of half chances but NorthEast United goalkeeper Mirshad Michu showed his good reflexes to keep the score 1-0. Highlanders left back Gurjinder Kumar was forced to be substituted in the 28th minute and was replaced by Tondonba Singh. ATK Mohun Bagan had yet another opportunity to equalize through Liston Colaco who shot a ferocious shot from an angle inside the box but Michu once again averted the danger.

At the other end, a long range effort from NorthEast United’s Rochharzela was saved by Amrinder Singh. ATK Mohun Bagan had yet another good opportunity when Colaco stormed into the box but his shot from a tight angle was saved yet again by Michu and the rebound was blocked brilliantly by Khassa Camara off Hugo Boumous. Just when it looked like NorthEast United would go into half-time with a 1-0 lead, a scuffed goal kick by Michu found Krishna whose inviting cross was met with Colaco’s head and went in the back of the net.

With the scores level, ATK Mohun Bagan went into the second half with renewed vigour and soon took the lead through Hugo Boumous. With NorthEast United failing to clear their lines, Subhasish Bose cut the ball back to Boumous who outwitted the defenders and tapped the ball into the back of the net. Juan Ferrando decided to make his first change of the match not long after when Carl McHugh was replaced by Joni Kauko in the 60th minute. Kauko played a crucial role in ATK Mohun Bagan’s third goal as he set up Boumous with a perfectly weighted pass and the French-Moroccan footballer slotted the ball past Mirshad Michu and into the back of the net. However, NorthEast United substitute Mashoor Shereef scored his side’s second goal of the match with a powerful shot from inside the box in the dying minutes of the game but it was not enough to secure a point.

ATK Mohun Bagan will face FC Goa in their next match on 29th December, 2021 which will see Juan Ferrando against his former side while NorthEast United FC face a tough test against Mumbai City FC on 27th December 2021 at the Fatorda Stadium. 

Also read: FC Goa appoint Derrick Pereira as head coach