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Kerala Blasters bowed out of the Indian Super League after playing out a highly entertaining and eventful 3-3 draw at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Delhi; home to the Delhi Dynamos.The home side were sent ahead by Andre Dos Santos, but the visitors turned the game on its head through goals from Chris Dagnall and Jaoa Coimbra. Antonio German then put Kerala firmly in the drivers’ seat giving them a solid 2 goal lead only to be cancelled out a minute later by Dynamos’ forward Adil Nabi.But it was midfielder Sehnaj Singh on whom the spotlight shone, equalising with a thunderous strike very late in added time for Delhi.Here are the major talking points from number 53 of the Hero Indian Super League.
#1 Sehnaj strikes right at the death
Delhi Dynamos’ Sehnaj Singh stole the show with an equaliser, right at the very end in spectacular fashion. The Lions looked like they were heading for a defeat when the 22-year old made headlines with a screamer.
Roberto Carlos’ men were looking rather tired and a bit jaded towards the end of the 90 minutes having given it their all. Deep into added time, John Arne Riise squared the ball to Sehnaj who hit it firmly from 30 yards out giving keeper Sandip Nandy no chance.
Sehnaj Singh formerly of Mohun Bagan in the I-League had a night to remember, scoring his first and arguably one of the best goals of the ISL this season.
Delhi’s number 26 who likes to play at the centre of park as a box to box midfielder will be definitely in Roberto Carlos’ plans when he prepares for the oncoming semi-final playoffs in a week’s time.
#2 Thoroughly entertaining first half
Throughout the 90 minutes, the highly thrilling encounter saw both teams tactically cancel each other out on different areas of the field scoring enough goals in the process to give the spectators their money’s worth. The exhilarating 3-3 draw will definitely go into the history vault of the Indian Super League as a classic.
Despite the late twist, it was the first half that contained most of the action with as many as 5 goals being scored in the first 45 minutes.
Delhi Dynamos thought that it was to be another easy night for them when Brazilian Dos Santos put them ahead after just 7 minutes. Kerala Blasters playing with nothing to lose came back a couple of minutes later through Chris Dagnall. After the half hour mark, the men in yellow went on score 2 more through Joao Coimbra and Antonio Germain within a span of 10 minutes but Pakistani-born English striker, Adil Nabi put them back in the game just moments later drawing to a close an action-packed first half.
#3 Dagnall and German end season on a high with 6 goals each
Kerala Blasters’ strikers have not shied away from stepping up this season and have scored a total of 18 goals between them. This was yet another good outing for the forwards at Kerala, with both Chris Dagnall and Antonio German both getting on the scoresheet taking their goal tally to a respectable figure of 6 goals each.
Former Bradford City striker, Chris Dagnall initially levelled things on the night, pouncing on Delhi defender, Anas Edathodika’s error to put them in front. Anas misread a cross in from the right, trying to clear it with a diving header, but missed it completely resulting in the ball falling kindly at the feet of Dagnall at point blank range.
Antonio German scored the third for the visitors with an outstanding strike from inside the box. German trapped Mehtab’s cross with his chest and lashed a strike right on the turn for a brilliant finish.
In the race for the golden boot, Kerala Blasters’ English strikers German and Dagnall are tied with 6 goals each alongside Mumbai City FC’s Sunil Chhetri.
#4 Bold team selection from Roberto Carlos
Having already booked a berth in the semi-finals, Delhi Dynamos managed by former World Cup winner Roberto Carlos was expected to rest a few key members against the Kerala Blasters in order to keep them fit and fresh.
With its tight schedule, the infamous ISL format has had its toll on many players across various franchises and therefore, top performers of the season such as Anas Edathodika, Hans Mulder, John Arne Risse and Florent Malouda were all expected to be rested. Roberto Carlos, however, had other ideas and handed them starts, raising a few eyebrows with this bold decision.
A perfectionist that Carlos is, he did not hold anything back and went in with all guns blazing, with his main men carrying out their duties as per order.
Delhi Dynamos, who still can finish as league leaders, will now turn their attention towards Chennayin FC, whom they will host on the 6th of December for their last league match.
#5 Not a very happy ending for Kerala
The Blasters’ 3-3 draw in their farewell at the national capital, summed up their entire Indian Super League campaign in 90 minutes. The visitors played some terrific football but could not come out with 3 points. Though they had nothing to play for going into this fixture they would have hoped to sign off with a win against the Dynamos.
Despite a promising start to their season, the Blasters lost pace, making a habit of conceding late goals. They had to sack their head coach Peter Taylor due to a bad run of form; becoming the first ISL team to part with their manager in the middle of the season. Injuries also had a hand in their bad season, with players like Guruwinder Singh, Nirmal Chhetri, Sanchez Watt and Carlos Marchena all missing out through injury.
After playing 14 games, the Kerala Blasters ended their season sitting at 7th spot, a place above Mumbai City FC, who have a game in hand, on goal difference. Both the teams are tied at 13 points, 10 points off FC Goa at the top.
