ATK, CFC attackers have a huge role to play in final

Incidentally, behind the teams’ potency in front of goal are two partnerships that have set the league alight. For ATK, it is the electric combination of Roy Krishna and David Williams. For its opponent, CFC, it is the guile and persistence of Nerijus Valskis and Rafael Crivellaro. The battle between Krishna-Williams and Crivellaro-Valskis will most definitely have a huge impact on which team becomes the first-ever to lift the trophy three times.

Krishna and Williams are no strangers to each other, having already struck up an understanding during their time at Wellington Phoenix in the A-League before making their move to Kolkata. They have continued their partnership in India as well, combining to deadly effect as ATK finished second in the league stage.

The players feed off each other as the two strikers in Antonio Habas’s system and were instrumental again in the play-offs against Bengaluru FC. With ATK needing to score three goals at home, Krishna scored one and Williams hit two as the side.

On a scoring spree, Krishna is in the running for the ISL Golden Boot award. He has scored 15 goals so far and just needs one more to overtake Bartholomew Ogbeche (Kerala Blasters), who also has 15. The Fijian also has five assists to his name. Williams has scored seven goals and has four assists despite missing a few games due to injury.

Chennaiyin’s Crivellaro and Valskis have no prior connection but the two hit it off after an initial hiccup. CFC scored no goals in its first four matches but went on to net 38 in its next 16. 21 of those have come from Valskis (14) and Crivellaro (7). While the Brazilian performs a creative role, sitting behind Valskis, he is no stranger to audacious goals.