Half Time Report: Goa dominate Delhi to take 2-0 lead, but Delhi 1 goal short of a turnaround
Starting Line-Ups:
FC Goa - Laxmikant Kattimani, Lucio, Gregory Arnolin, Pronay Halder, Bikramjit Singh, Mandar Rao Desai, Romeo Fernandes, Jofre, Leo Moura, Dudu Omagbemi, Rafael Coelho
Delhi Dynamos FC - Toni Doblas, Robin Singh, John Arne Riise, Chicao, Robert Lalthlamuana, Florent Malouda, Adil Nabi, Sehnaj Singh, Gustavo Marmentini, Anas Edathodika, Shylo Malsawmtluanga
A HIGH-TEMPO, physical half of football saw FC Goa unleash a wave of attacks on the visitors FC Goa and end the first half with a 2-0 lead. This means the Gaurs are 2-1 ahead in aggregate and the favourites to go into the final; but Delhi can still turn the table with just one goal.
Zico, who had the onus to chase down a one goal deficit coming into the game, made a host of changes in the side. Mandar Rao Desai, Romeo Fernandes, Bikramjit Singh, Rafael Coelho and Dudu Omagbemi came into the side in order to overcome the failure of the first leg. Roberto Carlos, meanwhile, used the same starting XI that he fielded in the first leg.
But the game was nothing like the one on Friday night.
It was evident that tensions were running high from the outset. A foul by Gregory Arnolin on Robin Singh saw Roberto Carlos go absolutely mad in the sidelines. He could not tolerate an injury risk on the scorer from the first leg and reacted furiously when the referee let Arnolin go without being carded.
But FC Goa soon established control over the flow of the match. Delhi were definitely keeping more of the ball but they could not find a way to venture past the Goa defence line. The attacks were mostly coming from the home team.
Jofre had a couple of shots but they did not go in. And then, just 10 minutes into the game, he earned his team the break-through. Moura gave him the ball, and Jofre managed to get past Riise and slot in the ball with his left foot. It was 1-0 to Goa on the night and 1-1 overall in aggregate; the fight was on.
The tension between the teams went a notch higher. And it flared up when Jofre's studs unintentionally hit a fallen-over Chicao in the face. Chicao had to go to the sidelines to receive treatment and it was a few minutes before he could come back on.
Riise did good to block an attempt by Romeo Fernandes but the ball hit him hard in the face and clearly left him dazed; something Delhi would have to pay for a few minutes later.
After Nabi missed the target by a couple of inches, Goa defenders sent a long ball ahead and Rafael Coelho managed to get to it. He ran straight in, with Riise blocking his way. His shot went through the legs of Riise and straight into the net. The crowd went nuts; Goa had taken a 2-1 lead in aggregate and become the front-runners in the race to the final.
Riise was taken off after this, and once back on the bench, he indicated that he was still dazed from the ball he took on his face. This may be a disappointing end to the ex Liverpool defender's illustrious journey in ISL 2015. Hans Mulder came to replace him.
Robert's cross found Malouda who took a hurried shot at the goal and Goa keeper Laxmikant Kattimani managed to deflect for a corner. He also punched away the corner kick that Malouda sent in.
Pronay Halder picked up a yellow after bringing down Hans Mulder. Then Rafael and Anas Edathodika clashed with each other vying for possession, and the former hurt his calf. He had to be taken away on a stretcher for some ice pack and spray. The revenge foul from Goa came swiftly; Dudu brought down Anas from behind and was lucky not to get booked.
With the tension rising and physical tussles between the players on the rise, the first half came to an end; with Goa evidently the favourites to go through but Delhi threatening to strike right back. Roberto Carlos's side need only one goal in the second half qualify for the final thanks to the away goal rule.
