Delhi Dynamos finally managed to defeat their opponents FC Goa for the first time in the season with a 1-0 victory in the first leg of the first semi final of the Hero Indian Super League on Friday.
Delhi Dynamos, who was hoping to make the most of their home advantage, made a bright start to the game and had an early chance in the game on the fifth minute after Gustavo dos santos found Florent Malouda on the break but the Frenchman failed to keep his shot on target.
The Guars responded with an attack of their own in the 12th minute as Joffrea s cross found CS Sabeeth but the Indian forward failed to keep his header on target.
Delhi Dynamos then had three quick chances around the twenty minute mark, first of which fell to Gustavo dos santos, who did well to reach the end of a return pass, before trying his luck from distance. The next chance fell to Robin Singh but his header wasna t on target before the ball eventually reached to Chicao but his shot was saved. Malouda then produced an exqusite through ball with the outside of his boot to find Robin, but the India International failed to keep his shot on target.
FC Goa, who were happy to sit back and defend, found it hard to keep hold of the ball under the aggressive approach from Delhi Dynamos, as the Lions piled on the attacking approach.FC Goa found it hard to stop Malouda and Gustavoa s combination as Gregory Arnolin was forced to clear the ball for a corner.
FC Goa soon led the counter attack through Leo Moura but CS Sabeeth crumbled under the pressure but Zico, though, was forced to make an early change after Raju Gaikwad went down with an injury.
Delhi Dynamos went extremely close on the 41st minute after Adil Nabi went past Pronay Halder to cut back for Gustavo Dos Santos but his curled effort narrowly misses the target. Gustavo then made amends for his miss, as he won the ball with his relentless pressure on Narayan Das on the 43rd minute before laying it off for Chicao, who produced a sumptuous cross for Robin Singh to head home the ball.
.
FC Goa, who would be cursing their luck for their profligacy, as Sabeeth again failed to keep his header on target on the 47th minute.
Delhi Dynamos started the second half in search of the second goal to extend their lead but neither teams did enough to change the scoreline. Adil Nabi first went wide on the 50th minute, then on the hour mark Shylo Malswamtulunga failed to hit on the target.
The Lions had a glorious opportunity on the 73rd minute when Malswamtulunga set through Malouda but the Guars goalkeeper Laxmikant Kattimani did just enough to deny the Frenchman.
FC Goa then tried to sneak an away goal in the dying minutes of the match but Toni Doblas and the profligacy of the FC Goa forward meant the scoreline showed no changed despite Leo Moura and Rafael Coelho having two glorious opportunities.
Image Courtesy: ISL Media