Kolkata: Ashley Westwood’s overtaking the reigns had ATK in high spirits but Debjit’s double blunder in the space of 12 minutes meant Chennaiyin FC registered their first ever win 2-1 against defending champions ATK at the Viveknanda Yuba Bharati Krirangan on Thursday.
It took the ‘Marina Machans’ at the top with 23 points after 12 matches, while ATK remained eighth on 12 points having a played a match less.
This was also the first time the reigning champions lost a match after taking the lead and one which was their fifth in the season and in successive matches.
Paterson had put the hosts ahead in the 44th minute, but Maílson Alves’ first goal of the fourth edition nulled it, before Jeje scored the winner in the 64th minute to become the domestic joint highest scorer of the season alongside Sunil Chhetri. Both have seven goals.
But it was not what the results say as the match progressed in the first-half. The visitors dominated the proceedings keeping more possession on the ball but it was ATK who had the better chances and they skied allmost all but one.
A little lapse at concentration that saw two Chennaiyin defenders chase the ball leaving the defence wide open that resulted in the home side’s first goal, from what was their one of only two shots on target — the other came in the second-half, which was straight at goalkeeper Karanjit Singh.
Jayesh Rane on the left flank made a great run before squaring the ball for debutant Martin Paterson, who leapt the highest to send in a thumping header that put ATK ahead, a minute before half-time.
Though Chennaiyin dominated, ATK’s park the bus game plan made it difficult for the visitors to score and when they did, the champions either outnumberd them or put up cynical tackles that earned then three bookings with Ryan Taylor and Shankar Sampingiraj leading the pack.
But for once a team, that looked confident after going ahead with changes at the helm of affairs, Debjit’s clanger brought them low in the 52nd minute and 12 minutes later it was the same mistake them put them behind.
After exchanging some neat passes among themselves, Inigo Calderon send in a delightful cross for Jeje that was however more towards Majumder at goal rather than the striker. But in what should have been a routine collection for the goalkeeper, his delay led the Mizoram sniper to his seventh goal, the joint highest by an Indian in the ISL this year.
Minutes before, ATK defenders were left ball watching as Alves scored from a free header, that left a diving Majumder gasping for breath.
Chennaiyin however continued attacking despite taking the lead and could have gone well ahead had Jeje tapped-in a simple ball from a goalmouth-melee.