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Back-to-back victory for Kolkata

By Sports reporter

GUWAHATI, Oct 16 � Atletico De Kolkata registered their back-to-back victory in the inaugural edition of the Hero Indian Super League.

At the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium here this evening. The Kolkata team outplayed host North East United Football Club by a clear margin of 2-0 goals. Fikru Tefera Lemsessa and Jakub Podany netted one goal each for the winners.

The first session never rose to the expected heights as most of the players were not in their peak form. Except the goal there was very little to discuss.

But Ethiopian striker Fikru Tefera Lemsessa was quite exceptional who, not only motivated his entire attacking force, but also netted the opening goal in the 15th minute. Spanish midfielder Borja Fernendaze beautifully fed the ball to Fikru who made a chest trap and volleyed home giving no opportunity to North East United FC goalkeeper Alexandros Tzorvas.

Kolkata enjoyed the major share of the ball in the first session and in the 13th minute they made two back-to-back attempts at the home team�s goal but skipper Luis Javier Garcia Sanz of Spain could not break the crowded home defence from inside the box. North East United FC central defender Kondwani Mtonga had a very busy time as a series of forays by Kolkata frontliners created frequent danger in their fort.

The home team�s star striker Sergo Contreras Pardo (Koke) hardly got adequate support from James Keene and Durga Boro. They never created any dangerous situations in the first session.

In comparison to the first session, the second half witnessed some exciting moments, particularly in front of the Kolkata goal. Cheered by the partisan capacity crowd after the break, the home team players made some valiant efforts to level the issue. After introducing South Korean striker Do Dong Hyun, new life came into the home team�s attack. Durga Boro squandered scoring opportunities in the 65th and 90th minutes. Their goal in the 69th minute was disallowed as striker Keene was off-side. Credit should be given to the Kolkata defenders for preventing the NE United strikers from doing any damage in the early part of the second session.

In added time, substitute midfielder Jakub Podany of Czech Republic extended the lead with a powerpacked left footed volley. Earlier, the Kolkata team was reduced to ten men army in the 83rd minute when their midfielder Borja Fernandez of Spain was issued the red card.

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