Atletico de Kolkata will host Chennaiyin FC at the Salt Lake Stadium for the return leg of the second semi-final of the Indian Super League season II. Chennaiyin won the first leg in Pune 3-0, which means that ATK needs to score atleast 4 goals to go into the finals, which as of now looks a highly improbable task but not an impossible task.
Chennaiyin FC are the clear favourites in this coming as they outplayed their rivals swiftly in the previous match and they know they are just one good match away from the finals. ATK on the other hand will try to regain some lost ground and they will definitely try their best to spoil Chennaiyin's party. One big advantage for ATK will be that they will be playing in their home ground where they enjoy a tremendous crowd support.
But before the match begins, let’s take a look at the players from the teams to watch out for:
Atletico de Kolkata:
1) Ian Hume: Ian Hume has been the highest scorer for ATK in this season with 10 goals and the entire ATK has been dependant on his services as a striker. In the last match, his presence was hardly felt as he was largely kept at bay by the rival defenders. In this match, he would definitely like to do something for his team as everyone associated to ATK will looking upto him for goals.
2) Sameegh Doutie: Doutie, too, was in a phenomenal form in the later part of the league phase for ATK with his brilliant assists and superb finishes. If ATK has to win this match, then Douite needs to step up with his game and help ATK to get goals in this important clash.
3) Jamie Gavilan: With Borja almost ruled out of the return leg, Gavilan will have to lead ATK's midfield from the front. He will have to take extra responsibility to control the midfield and create moves and relay passes for Hume, Doutie and Arata so that they can score goals.
Chennaiyin FC
1) Steven Mendoza: Mendoza has become the highest goal scorer in the short history of ISL. The Colombian is in the form of his life as he is scoring goals as well as setting up for his team mates. With Mendoza on their side, Chennaiyin do not have to worry much as much of the worrying needs to done by ATK defenders now.
2) Jeje Lalpekhlua: The 24-year Manipurian has been scoring all important goals for his team. In the last match also, he scored one which was brilliantly set up by Mendoza and he himself later returned the same favour to the Colombian with a beautiful chip. Jeje has turned out to be one of the best Indian strikers of the ISL and also for Chennaiyin.
3) Bernard Mendy: It’s assumed that ATK will come out to score as many goals as possible in the match which means Chennaiyin's defence needs to be on high alert. Mendy will be leading their defence and in their last encounter, he did a pretty good job, not letting a single ATK player to pose so much as a threat in the Chennaiyin box.
By Dipayan Saha
