FATORDA: Delhi Dynamos FC secured their second win of Hero Indian Super League 2016 after a 2-0 triumph against FC Goa in front of almost 18,000 fans at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Fatorda on Sunday.
Both the goals came in the second half, following the introduction of Marcelinho. The winger scored first in the 72nd minute before setting up Richard Gadze four minutes later for a comfortably victory against last season’s runners-up.
Goa came desperately close to taking the lead in the 5th minute after Rafael Coelho went in on goal, but Toni Doblas just managed to get his finger-tips on the Brazilian’s attempted chip, which was still heading towards goal until Anas Edathodika headed heroically off the line to concede a corner.
Mandar Rao Dessai came closest to breaking the deadlock in 26th minute when a thunderous left-footed shot from distance nearly took the paint off the post. Gadze had another shot on goal three minutes later after Florent Malouda set him up. This time the 22-year-old missed the target to Delhi’s despair.
Delhi’s last chance of the half also fell to Gadze. The Ghanaian drove at the Gaurs’ defence before forcing Chowdhury into a save. Romeo Fernandes had Goa’s last shot of the half, which required Doblas’ intervention to keep it 0-0 at half-time.
It was a slow start to the second period with the first shot of the half coming in the 56th minute through Bruno Pelissari, whose effort from range was straight down Chowdhury’s throat. Cesar flicked on a Dessai cross from the left into a dangerous area two minutes later. A desperate stretch by Luciano Sobrosa wasn’t enough to meet the 36-year-old’s flick-on, however, as the ball trickled across the face of the six-yard box and went behind for a goal-kick.
The opening goal came six minutes later after some individual brilliance by Marcelinho. Delhi’s super-sub expertly controlled a long ball from Doblas before gliding past Goa’s defenders and unleashing a venomous shot into the back of the net to make it 1-0.
The Lions sealed the result in the 76th minute after Marcelinho headed a Malouda cross that found him at the far post towards Gadze, who was on the edge of the six-yard box. This time the Ghanaian striker made no mistake as he buried the ball into the bottom corner to give the Dynamos a two-goal cushion.
Delhi kept their shape and possession well in the final 10 minutes to run down the clock as Goa struggled to get on the goal. The Gaurs failed to create anything of note as Delhi picked up their second win of the season, against rock-bottom Goa.
As long we are breathing, we have hope: Zico
Team Herald
sports@herald-goa.com
Fatorda: FC Goa suffered their third consecutive defeat at their fortress against Delhi Dynamos, keeping them grounded rock-bottom in the ISL season three at the half-way mark.
Whilst the Gaurs put up a splendid performance in the first half against the visitors, the fans were expecting enthralling second session but only to find themselves run out of steam and concede two late goals in the span of ten minutes, which broke the heart of 17,989 fans gathered, thus doubting their qualification to the play offs.
However, FC Goa coach has not lost hope in the team as he believes that his side still stands a chance to make it to the knock-out stage though it would be an uphill task.
“Still we are breathing. And as much as we are breathing, we have hope,” Zico sighed while addressing the post-match conference.
“Our situation has become a little bit complicated. It is a bit more difficult. Now we have to win at least five matches from the remaining seven matches,” the coach added.
Whilst the score line still 0-0, there were two penalty shouts in favour of FC Goa and if contested it would have been a different story at the end of the final whistle.
However, the tactician chose not to speak on the subject.
“It was nil-nil. I can’t say anything. If I say something, then I’m breaking the rules. But you are talking and not me. I have just come here to say yes, no,” he said.
