Atletico de Kolkata climbed to the top of the Indian Super League table after completing an excellent comeback from a goal down in the first half in Guwahati on Friday.
Emiliano Alfaro had put NorthEast United ahead with a thumping header but the introduction of Kolkata's marquee signing Helder Postiga galvanised the visitors. The Portuguese forward scored his team's equaliser before Juan Belencoso stabbed the winner late in the game to give his side a 2-1 win.
The usually compact Kolkata defence were unusually lacklustre in the first half as United came out strongly. The direct running of Robert Cullen and Katsumi Yusa pegged their opponents back in their own half. Nirmal Chhetri provided width and energy on the right flank.
United took the lead from an exquisite right-wing cross from Chhetri with Alfaro netting his fifth of the season, attacking the ball in the box and heading it home. It is hard to believe how one change completely reversed Kolkata's fortunes from the first-half. There was more zip in the way they passed, and also pressed hard in midfield to win the ball back.
United were beginning to get anxious at the back and there were a couple of half chances that the home side survived. Just over the hour mark, Kolkata deservedly equalised. Robert Lalthlamuana's cross from the left-wing was angled in towards goal and Postiga, the game-changer, headed it past Subrata Paul.
There was more trouble for United, who were already under the cosh from a wave of attacks that kept sweeping them as goalkeeper Paul limped off with an injury. With less than 10 minutes left for the final whistle, Robert Lalthlamuana raced to the byline unmarked, and passed the ball to Belencoso at the far post. A simple tap-in put Kolkata in the lead.
United, though, were not going down easy. Alfaro still had plenty of fight left in him and Reagan Singh, who had come on as a late substitute, tested Debjit Majumder with a couple of long-range shots. Kolkata ran down the clock to hold on to their lead and climb to provisionally grab the top spot.
Brief scores:
NorthEast United 1 (Emiliano Alfaro) lose to Atletico de Kolkata 2 (Helder Postiga, Juan Belencoso)
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