Kolkata
Former champions ATK suffered a 2-0 defeat to two-time runners-up Kerala Blasters in the opening match of the 5th Indian Super League here today. Matej Poplatnik and Slavisia Stojanovic scored in the second half as Kerala registered only their second win over the Kolkata team, and first since 2014.
After finishing ninth in the last season, ATK might have overhauled the squad and roped in a trusted coach in Steve Coppell but their fate remained unchanged as they struggled to keep pace with Kerala. The David James-coached outfit looked in their element with Slovenian Poplatnik continuously raiding ATK’s box before he broke the deadlock in the 77th minute.
