ISL Season 3: No home comfort for NorthEast as Kolkata zoom to top of table

Atletico de Kolkata hit back in spectacular fashion to floor NorthEast United FC 2-1 in an entertaining Hero Indian Super League battle in Guwahati on Friday.

NEUFC looked to have sealed the top spot when Emiliano Alfaro provided the hosts with a first-half lead. But ATK struck back in the second session with goals from marquee player Helder Postiga and Jpuan Belencoso.

The win took Kolkata to the top of the table with 12 points at the end of the first leg matches while NorthEast United are third with 10 points after losing their last two matches at home. Both teams surprised their fans with lineup changes. NEUFC left out Romaric and Nicolas Velez due to injuries, while the visitors left the hardworking Iain Hume on the bench. The hosts started well and should have been ahead in the fifth minute when defender Arnab Mondal and goalkeeper Debjit Majumder got into a tangle but Alfaro could not capitalise.

Alfaro was a constant danger as his pace troubled the defence.

The Uruguayan striker could not be denied his chance to enter his name in the scorers list in the 39th minute. It was a combined effort that started with a throw-in. Nirmal Chhetri controlled the ball on the right, played a nice one-two with Katsumi Yusa and then whipped the ball across the face of goal where Alfaro made no mistake with his header.

In the second half, ATK made changes, bringing in Postiga for Sameehg Doutie. The former Portugal striker showed remarkable touch to create panic in the rival defence whenever he had the ball and finally scored the equaliser in the 63rd minute.

A cross from Lalrindika Ralte was perfect for Postiga who beat his NorthEast counterpart, Didier Zokoro, to head the ball home.