Goa under pressure in ISL semis second leg against Dynamos

FC GOA are keen to avoid another loss at the semi-finals as they prepare to overturn a 0-1 deficit against Delhi Dynamos in the second leg semi-final clash of the Indian Super League (ISL) Margao on Tuesday.

FC Goa lost the first leg semi-final 0-1 in New Delhi on December 11. They have added impetus of playing the final of th tournament at their home on December 20.

Last year, FC Goa lost to eventual champions Atletico de Kolkata at the same stage on penalties. But coach Zico feels his team is better prepared to tackle their semi-final opponents this time.

"Delhi Dynamos did not have supremacy over us in the last game. Both teams had chances but Delhi took theirs and we didn't," Zico told reporters during the pre-match media briefing on Monday.

Zico is expected to change his line-up and tweak team formation as Brazilian striker Reinaldo and defender Raju Gaekwad are both unavailable. Another Brazilian striker Rafael Coelho may replace Reinaldo.

Goa beat Delhi Dynamos 2-0 in their opening league clash at home earlier in the tournament.

Asked what had changed between then and now, Zico said, "nothing much has changed. Both have the same players and if I can see any change, it's just that the players are a little bit tired."

Dynamos could have killed the contest in the first leg but missed plenty of chances. Coach Roberto Carlos knows that his team was superior in the first leg after losing both the league clashes and was confident that they can be the first team to seal a place in the final.

"My team will always attack. The formation will always be attacking. It will be almost the same. We will shoot on goal," said Carlos, when asked if he would try and defend the win that they secured in New Delhi.

Dynamos have been a low scoring team all through the league but Carlos said he had nothing to worry as attacking players like Gustavo dos Santos, Robin Singh, Florent Malouda, Richard Gadze and Adil Nabi were all capable of scoring goals in crucial matches.

"The players are motivated and confident. We have to set up some details for this match and then we are ready. It's our most important match," said Carlos.

Former Chelsea winger FRenchman Florent Malouda, who was also present for the media briefing, was equally confident.

"For us, it's better not to make any calculation. Whenever we have tried to calculate, it's not been good for us. We lost twice to Goa (in the league stage) and learnt our lessons from those losses," said Malouda.