ATK floors Jamshedpur

Edu Garcia (59’) also added his name to the scoresheet as the visitor secured its ninth win of the season. ATK is now level on points (30) at the top of the table with Goa after 15 matches. Jamshedpur has seen its play-off hopes virtually end and is now seventh with16 points.

ATK came out all guns blazing and broke the deadlock just two minutes into the game. The tourist’s high-voltage start was rewarded when an under-pressure Sandip Mandi chose to play a weak pass to Memo Moura. Krishna was alert to the situation and the Fijian striker intercepted, charged towards the goal and slotted the ball past Subrata Paul.

Subrata was next in line to err while trying to play out from the back. The goalkeeper tried to take a touch and kick the ball after collecting a back-pass from Memo but hit it straight to Krishna. This time though, the striker sent his effort straight back at the custodian. It was one-way traffic in the first half as ATK continued to threaten Jamshedpur’s goal.

In the 26th minute, Edu outfoxed his marker and got into a one-on-one against Subrata but the veteran custodian charged off his line and produced a crucial save. After the half an hour mark, Subrata’s desire to build-up play from the back went awry again. His pass, which was easily cut off, landed at the feet of Krishna who squared itto Edu.

The Spaniard shifted his feet and shot but was denied by Joyner Lourenco at the goal line. Jamshedpur’s fortunes went from bad to worse at the start of the second half when the referee ordered an early bath for Jitendra Singh. The defender failed to get the ball in a sliding challenge that halted Jayesh Rane’s counter-attack and received his second yellow card.

Edu, who was ATK’s creative source, turned up at the end of a fine counter-attacking move to double his team’s lead close to the hour-mark. The Spanish midfielder initiated the counter by finding Krishna ahead of him, charged into the box to receive the striker’s cushioned return and finished into the netwith aplomb.

With 15 minutes left in the game, Krishna sealed three points for his team. Prabir Das forwarded a pass to Edu, who released a terrific through ball for Krishna, who gave Subrata no chance to make a save.