ATK Mohun Bagan thrashed Kerala Blasters by 4:2 in the ISL opening match

 

ATK Mohun Bagan kick-started their Indian Super League season 8 campaign in style, thumping Kerala Blasters 4-2 on matchday 1.

ATKMB hit the ground running from the very off, and scored their first goal of the night on 3 minutes. Hugo Boumous' cross turned shot beat Albino Gomes, who had anticipated Roy Krishna connecting it and was left flat-footed when he did not.

Kerala Blasters restored parity on 24 minutes as Sahal Abdul Samad chested down Rahul KP's cross and struck it past Amrinder Singh to level the scoreline.

Blasters' relief, though, was short-lived, as Roy Krishna converted the penalty that was awarded after goalkeeper Gomes brought him down inside the box on 27 minutes.

Boumous doubled his tally and ATKMB's lead on 39 minutes, outmuscling Bijoy Varghese before sending the ball through the legs of Gomes into the Blasters net.

Blasters went into the break trailing by two goals, but their hopes of a comeback took a hit when Liston Colaco curled home an absolute stunner five minutes into the second half.

Kerala Blasters returned one on 69 minutes, Jorge Pereyra Diaz dinking an Adrian Luna through ball over ATKMB goalkeeper to score his side's second of the night. But, that proved not enough as ATKMB withheld Blasters to secure all three points and a stunning start to the new campaign.