Late goals help ATK hold Bengaluru

ATK finishes second with 34 points. Dimas Delgado (18’) and Kevaughn Frater (35’) were on the scoresheet for the home side while Edu Garcia (86’) and Michael Soosairaj (90’) netted for the visitor.

Carles Cuadrat handed Frater his first start as he partnered Thongkhosiem Haokip upfront. Meanwhile, Antonio Habas, like Bengaluru, put several of his star players on the bench as he named youngster Dheeraj Singh in between the sticks. The breakthrough came in the 18th minute when Parag Srivas was brought down on the edge of the box by Salam Ranjan.

From the ensuing free-kick, Dimas Delgado’s effort went straight into the back of the net. ATK could have equalised soon after. David Williams’s corner-kick was headed out by Harmanjot Khabra but the ball went straight to the feet of Jayesh Rane on the edge of the box. However, the Indian midfielder’s feeble attempt wentout of play.

Just after the half-an-hour mark, Haokip had to be taken off as he picked up an injury and Nili Perdomo was brought in. In the 35th minute, Frater scored his first goal for Bengaluru as he received a cut back from Leon Augustine and placed it with ease into the back of the net. After the break, substitute Garcia found himself in space and tested Prabhsukhan Gill from distance but the goalkeeper was equalto the task.

The next big chance came for the home outfit when Erik Paartalu crossed for Nili but the latter’s shot hit the side-netting. Garcia scored on his return to Bengaluru as he linked up with Roy Krishna and Williams before seeing his first-time shot beat Gill in the86th minute.

ATK got the equaliser in the 90th minute when Garcia’s free-kick found Soosairaj whose shot deflected off Gursimrat Gill to beat Prabhsukhan in goal.