Atletico de Kolkata were guilty of missing too many chances and were held to a goalless draw against FC Pune City in their concluding group encounter of Hero Indian Super League at Rabindra Sarobar Stadium, Kolkata, on Friday.
The draw meant Atletico de Kolkata are placed third on the table with 20 points and will play their crucial second-leg semi-final battle away.
FC PuneCity, on the other hand, were already out of reckoning for a place in semi-finals and ended up with 16 points from 14 matches to finish sixth, only ahead of Chennaiyin FC and FC Goa.
The only positive for Pune in the final league clash was that they managed to keep a clean slate for the first time after conceding goals for eight straight matches – thanks to some brave goalkeeping from Arindam Bhattacharya, who was picked ahead of star goalkeeper Edel Bete.
Atletico de Kolkata lacked sharpness in attack -- Spanish striker Juan Belencoso was guilty of missing at least four good chances and they dominated despite coach Jose Molina making a host of changes to his team in an attempt to keep players fresh for semi-final battles.
Image: Atletico de Kolkata's Keegan Pereira clears the ball as he is challenged by a FC Pune City player during their ISL match in Kolkata on Friday
Photograph: ISL