Indian Super League outfit ATK put up a gritty display but went down fighting 1-0 against Premier League club Fulham in a friendly match at the Pinatar Arena on Saturday.
Floyd Ayite won a freekick at the edge of the box in the ninth minute and fired a fine attempt on goal but ATK goalkeeper Arindam Bhattacharya was up to the task. Kalu Uche had half a chance five minutes later but couldn't convert.
Maxime Le Marchand had the best chance of the half when he unleashed a powerful left-footer from distance that narrowly missed the target.
Both sides went into the interval with neither able to score the opening goal. Fulham manager Slavisa Jokanovic brought on Andre Schurrle in the 61st minute and the move paid off soon. The German forward received the ball outside the box and curled it into the right bottom corner to put his side ahead in the 71st miniute.
That proved to be the decisive strike as Fulham held on to its slender lead to register a 1-0 win.
Despite the loss, the experience would certainly serve as a boost for Steve Coppell and his team ahead of the upcoming ISL season.
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