Image Courtesy a Indian Super League Media Team.
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NorthEast United FC
1900 IST, 03 November, 2015
Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi
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The 28th match of Indian Super League (ISL) 2015 will see second from top Delhi Dynamos FC take on second from bottom NorthEast United FC at New Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru stadium on Tuesday.
The Dynamos will make their second home appearance of the season having played their last 4 matches outside the capital. As pointed out in an earlier article on the website, three of the five wins for the Delhi Dynamos this season have come away from home – their latest coming against defending champions Atletico de Kolkata at the Salt Lake stadium.
The Dynamos will be looking to continue their winning momentum against a struggling NorthEast United side who have won just two matches all season. Cesar Farias’ men have struggled to make a real impact in the tournament and have failed to win any of their away this season. They will be looking to register their first away win of the tournament when they they take on Roberto Carlos’ high flying Delhi Dynamos on Tuesday.
Team News and Tactical Brief:
Delhi Dynamos FC
Delhi Dynamos FC will be buoyed by their impressive 1-0 win away over champions Atletico de Kolkata in Match 24 of the Indian Super League.
The Lions have the sturdiest defence in the league having conceded a mere 5 goals in the 6 matches played so far. The 4 man back-line of Anas Edathodika, John-Arne Riise, Ralte Adinga and Souvik have performed admirably in defence for the Dynamos this season. Apart from Souvik, who got sent off against Kolkata last time out, the other three are expected to retain in their places in the starting line up against the Highlanders.
Manager and marquee signing Roberto Carlos may make his first appearance for the club at home this season against NorthEast United FC. He will most likely come on as a substitute late in the game.
Club captain Hans Mulder, Chicao and the highly impressive Florent Malouda will complete the midfield three for the Dynamos. Malouda, in particular has been in exceptional form this season and will be looking to exploit a leaky North East backline that has already conceded a whopping 12 goals this season – the highest in the league.
Francis Fernandez and Robin Singh will most likely line upfront alongside Gustavo Dos Santos, who struck a late winner against Kolkata to give Delhi their third away win of the season. Ghanaian striker Richard Gadze, who started for the Dynamos last time out, will most likely give way to Dos Santos in the starting lineup.
Probable Starting Lineup (4-3-3): Doblas (GK); Anas, Riise, Ralte, Naoba Singh; Mulder, Chicao, Malouda; Dos Santos, Singh, Francis.
NorthEast United FC:
Second from bottom NorthEast United FC will be looking to recover from their 5-1 hammering at the hands of Mumbai City FC in their previous match when they take on the Delhi Dynamos in the capital on Tuesday.
As mentioned earlier, the North East defence has conceded the most number goals in the Indian Super League season so far. Cesar Farias has chopped and changed his back four throughout the season and it will be difficult to predict the defensive personnel he will put out against the Lions. Cedric Hengbart is the mainstay of the NorthEast defence and will most definitely retain his place in the starting lineup.
Bolthang, who got the consolation goal against Mumbai last week, will be accompanied in midfield by Silas, Bikey and Pradhan. Sanju Pradhan, the talented winger who has impressed as a substitute for the Highlanders this season, will most likely start ahead of Siam Hanghal.
Portuguese maestro Simao Sabrosa will operate in the No. 10 role as the playmaker behind the lone striker. Simao has so far failed to ignite North East United’s league campaign and will be hoping to do so against the Dynamos.
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In form Nicolas Velez will be tasked with breaching the league’s toughest defence when he lines up in attack as the lone striker.
Probable Starting Lineup (4-4-1-1): Rehenesh (GK); Khongjee, Hengbart, Lopez, Reagan; Bikey, Pradhan, Silas, Bolthang; Simao,Velez.
Predictions:
Delhi Dynamos FC 2-0 NorthEast United FC
The Delhi Dynamos FC will be hoping to climb to the top of the Indian Super League table after the conclusion of their second home match against NorthEast United. The Dynamos are the league’s lowest goalscorers (5) but have also got the league’s measliest defence (5).
Having leaked the most number of goals in the league so far (12), NorthEast United will do well to keep the Dynamos from scoring at Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru stadium. They will be looking to use the pace of Velez upfront and hit the Dynamos on the counter.
Facing a Delhi Dynamos side full of confidence after their successful away travails, NorthEast United will struggle to impose themselves in the game and will lose by atleast a couple of goals.