FC Goa and Delhi Dynamos FC have both already qualified for the ISL semi-finals and will face off in the final match of the group stage looking to finish up as the leader of the league. .
Although the primary objective of qualifying for the semis has been achieved, both teams will want to end the ISL group stages on a winning note and a victory in this game will mean they end up top of the table. Both camps have stressed that they will not be taking it easy for the game.
a Our philosophy is to always look for a victory, so we’re going to be aiming for the three points. Today during the practice, we’ll figure out our team against Delhi but our thinking is that we’ll play with the best players. The league is very short so we have to use the best players we can use and make sure there are no injuries ahead of the semi-finals,a FC Goa Assistant Coach Fernando Vannucci told reporters ahead of the match..
Delhi Dynamos superstar and former Chelsea player Florent Malouda has also addressed the game and said that it is important to continue on their winning streak.
” This is now the moment where you give value to everything you’ve done so far, so it’s very important. You cana t qualify for the final without winning. If you want to win, you have to have a strategy and that’s what we’re preparing now and that’s why tomorrow’s game is very important,a he said on Saturday.
Semi-Final preview
Fc Goa and Delhi Dynamos currently sit on 3rd and 4th place respectively, behind Chennaiyin FC and Atletico de Kolkata. The four contenders for the semis have been decided, but the order has not. An interesting result of this situation is that no matter what result Goa and Delhi get, they will be playing each other in the Semi Finals.
If one of them wins, they go to top spot and face the losers who are in fourth spot, in case of a draw they both gain a point and move to 2nd and 3rd place on the table and even in this case will play each other. This will be the first of a string of encounters between the two teams and they’ll certainly be looking for first blood.