Kerala Blasters FC succumb to Delhi Dynamos firepower in ISL

Kerala Blasters FC suffered a 2-0 loss to the Delhi Dynamos at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Friday. It was the Delhi Dynamos’ fans who had further reason to smile as their team went on top of the ISL table with this win.

The match was billed as the fight between the grittiest defence and most powerful forward-line as the hosts were at the top of the scoring charts and the visitors boasted of the league’s strongest defence. Delhi’s strikers showed great form to guide their team to a 2-0 win which took them to the top of the ISL table.

It was a familiar tale for Kerala Blasters as they produced a number of chances but their finishing was not up to the mark. Coach Steve Coppell said, “The first goal was unfortunate and that changed the game completely. We had to change our shape after that and it did not suit our style of play.”

Coppell wasn’t impressed that his team had to play four away games on the trot. “We have been away from our home ground for around two weeks now and it has been a major disadvantage. But we are working on our offensive play and a couple of good results can change our fortunes.”

Richard Gadze found the net for the hosts in the 55th minute, but his effort was ruled out as the striker was offside. However, he made up for his mistake as he capitalised on a defensive error a couple of minutes later to set up Kean Francis Lewis for the first goal of the match.

The goal changed the complexion of the match as the hosts started to attack with confidence and within five minutes of the opener, Marcelinho doubled the lead. Delhi skipper

Florent Malouda was able to find the Brazilian striker with a looping cross and the 29-year old nodded the ball over the keeper to score his fourth goal of the competition.

Coach Gianluca Zambrotta was pleased with the result, but asked his team to not get take their play-off position for granted.

“The team played brilliantly and I am extremely happy with our performance. Today’s match was against a very strong team and I am glad we came out on top.”

“We have improved a lot over the last few games and need to continue our run. We have a long journey ahead of us and it is necessary to stay focused on our target which is to reach the playoffs”, he added.

Their winless streak finally broken, an upbeat Delhi Dynamos would look to continue in same vein and consolidate their position when they lock horns with Kerala Blasters in an Indian Super League (ISL) football match on Friday.

The Dynamos are placed third in the eight-team table, while Kerala Blasters are struggling in sixth position after playing seven matches, the same as their next opponents. Italian World Cup winner Gianluca Zambrotta's side currently has 10 points with two wins, four draws and a loss.

Coached by former Manchester United Steve Coppell, Kerala Blasters FC have so far managed to secure nine points following two victories, three draws and two defeats in the third edition of the league. After a spate of four consecutive stalemates, Delhi Dynamos finally secured full points from their away match against FC Goa, and their morale will be certainly high as they seek a win at their own backyard.

On the other hand, Kerala Blasters will have something to worry about as the Sachin Tendulkar co-owned side is coming off a drab, goalless draw against defending champions Chennaiyin FC. Brazilian Marcelinho and Richard Gadze scored in Dynamos' 2-0 win over FC Goa, in the process exacting avenge for their semifinal exit last season, but the key player for the home side again will be marquee signing and midfield marshall Florent Malouda.

The two teams shared the spoils after a goalless draw in the first leg game at Kochi last month. Expected to be cheered by a handful of home crowd at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Dynamos would be keen to log full points and extend their winning run against a team that is coming off a mediocre outing in its last match.

The Delhi outfit will hope they continue to find the back of the target, as they are leading the team scoring charts with 10 goals, with Marcelinho at the top with four strikes. Like the way they did against FC Goa, Dynamos would look to dominate proceedings in the middle of the park, with Malouda leading the likes of Bruno Pelissari, Marcos Tebar, Souvik Chakraborty and Milan Singh.

Up front, Marcelinho could be partnering Gadze and Badara Badji. As far as Blasters are concerned, coach Coppell was not at all impressed with the team's last outing. Like their opponents Chennaiyin FC, Kerala Blasters too failed to capitalise on the half chances that came their way. Following the 0-0 result against Chennaiyin, Kerala have stretched their unbeaten run to five games, and they would be desperate to break the sequence.