ISL 2017: ATK 1-0 Delhi Dynamos - Robbie Keane scores in first home win

ATK won a home game for the first time in the 2017/18 Indian Super League (ISL) as they defeated Delhi Dynamos 1-0 at the Salt Lake Stadium on Saturday.

Robbie Keane (78') scored his first ISL goal as the title-holders moved into the seventh spot with eight points from six games.

Jayesh Rane made his full debut for the Kolkata side after making his first appearance from the bench in Mumbai. Robin Singh's injury prevented his participation while Rupert Nongrum was dropped to the bench. Hitesh Sharma made a comeback playing right behind skipper Robbie Keane.

Miguel Angel Portugal's red card in the last game left Shakti Chauhan in-charge and the Delhi assistant made four changes from the humiliating home loss to FC Goa. Arnab Das Sharma came in for Sukhadev Patil after the youngster shipped in five goals in the match.

Pratik Chowdhary, Matias Mirabaje and Eduardo Moya came in for the suspended Gabriel Cichero, Vinit Rai and the injured Kalu Uche for the side which started the game at bottom-place.

While the hosts started going the long-ball way in the first few minutes, Delhi thwarted the flow of the game with a string of soft fouls. Rane and Sharma were the aggressors who tried hard but the defeciency in the final third did reflect from a side that has only managed to score four goals in the season so far.

Within the first quarter of the hour, Romeo Fernandes rounded up Ashutosh Mehta inside the box and let loose but ATK custodian Debjit Majumder managed to keep it out. ATK's only moment of excitement came when Ryan Taylor's through ball was dummied off by Robbie Keane for Zequinha who sprinted in only to miss the far-post.

Sena Ralte was soon brought in after the resumption of the game post the interval for an injured Munmun Lugun. Arnab Das Sharma was tested twice from close range in the second period but Delhi's third choice custodian held on.

Rane and Ashutosh Mehta were soon taken off for Keegan Pereira and Bipin Singh. The latter had an impact in no time.

Conor Thomas' long ball was brought down by the former Shillong Lajong winger towards Keane and the Republic of Ireland stalwart swiveled around his counterpart Pritam Kotal and Rowlison Rodrigues to smash the ball into the bottom right-scorner to break the deadlock.

The hosts held on to the scoreline to record consecutive wins as the Lions slumped to their fifth consecutive defeat of the season, rendering their hopes of qualifying into the playoffs bleak as they remained rooted to the bottom of the table with only three points in hand.

ATK next host FC Goa on 3rd January while the capital-based side travel to Mumbai to face the Islanders on 29th December.