A 2-0 victory against Kerala Blasters took Delhi Dynamos to the top of the table on Friday. Goals from Brazilian attacker Marcelinho and Indian attacker Kean Lewis won the game for the Lions. The Blasters, on the other hand, could only manage a single shot on target and were really poor on the night.
Also read: ISL 2016: Delhi Dynamos 2-0 Kerala Blasters - 5 talking points
The first half of the game was a neutral one, but a mistake from Kerala goalkeeper Sandip Nandy in the second half marked the end of Kerala Blasters.
Here are the player ratings for the game.
Delhi Dynamos
Toni Doblas - 6/10
The Delhi goalkeeper had a very easy night with Kerala managing only one shot on target. Doblas had nothing much to do the whole night.
Konsham Singh - 6.5/10
Konsham initially had a tough time against Kerala's Kervens Belfort, but he got better later in the game. The 19-year-old did well to not make things easy for the Haitian forward. The full-back also aided his wingers with some forward runs.
Anas Edathodika - 8/10
Anas was rightly awarded the Hero of the Match award on the night. The centre-back, who is from Kerala, made sure that his native team didn't get a breakthrough. He was very good in the air and also made some good interceptions. The 29-year-old was solid in the back for Delhi.
Rubén González - 7.5/10
Like Anas, the Spaniard also was solid at the back for the Lions. Though the centre-back was not as involved in the game as his partner, González did very well to keep the Kerala attackers at bay. The 34-year-old is having a good season so far.
Souvik Chakraborty - 8/10
The Indian midfielder, who played at the left back position on the night, was instrumental in the defence. Souvik also aided Kean Lewis in the attack and caused trouble for the Kerala defenders. It was a perfect display from the 25-year-old.
Marcos Tébar - 7/10
The Kerala midfield was anonymous on the night and Tébar was the reason for it. The Spaniard was a rock in the midfield and handled the responsibility of a defensive-midfielder very well. He also made some forward passes that helped Delhi setup attacking movements.
Milan Singh - 6.5/10
Milan kept thing easy. He made short and simple forward passes that helped the Delhi attackers to trouble the Kerala defence. The 24-year-old also did well defensively.
Florent Malouda - 7/10
Malouda was very effective for the Zambrotta-manged team in the midfield. The French legend put in an exquisite cross into the box, which was headed into the net by Marcelinho. The men in yellow found it nearly impossible to handle the 36-year-old's strength and technique. The former Chelsea man is proving his worth as the team's marquee player.
Marcelinho - 8/10
The Brazilian continued his form against Kerala. Marcelinho, like always, created problems in the wings with his skills and flair. The way he headed the ball over Sandip Nandy to score Delhi's second goal was superb. The 29-year-old is now the top scorer in the league, along with NorthEast United's Emiliano Alfaro.
Kean Lewis - 7.5/10
The Indian attacker was also instrumental for Delhi. Lewis took his goal very calmly and neatly, which showed the confidence the player has. The 24-year-old was the outlet for many of his team's attacks. However, Lewis was at times bettered by Kerala full-back Sandesh Jhingan.
Richard Gadze - 7/10
Gadze pressurised Nandy and forced him to a mistake, from which he setup Lewis to score the first goal of the night. Gadze made things extremely difficult for Kerala centre backs Cedric Hengbart and Ouzin Ndoye. His physicality is very important for the team in the front.
Substitutes
Bruno Pelissari - 6.5/10
The 23-year-old also caused problems for the Kerala defence after coming on. The former Chennaiyin FC man also almost managed to get on the scoresheet.
Badara Badji - N/A
Badji came on too late and couldn't make any impact.
Lalchhawnkima - N/A
Kima also came in late and didn't do much.
Kerala Blasters
Sandip Nandy - 4/10
It was his mistake in the second half that turned things in Delhi's way. Zambrotta's side took advantage of the error by the goalkeeper and scored the first goal. The Indian goalkeeper was shaky throughout the match.
Sandesh Jhingan - 6/10
Lewis and Marcelinho gave the defender a tough time, but still, he managed to keep his solidity. The 23-year-old couldn't help the team's attack, but Jhingan was one of Kerala's better players on the night.
Cedric Hengbart - 6.5/10
Hengbart was probably the only Kerala player to have played up to the mark on Friday. The Frenchman did well to handle Gadze and other Delhi attackers. If it wasn't for him, their opponents would have scored more goals.
Ouzin Ndoye - 4.5/10
The Senegalese was brought into the team in place of marquee player Aaron Hughes, who has left for International duty. Ndoye was not able to step into Hughes' boots and was a complete failure at the back. The 24-year-old was given a nightmare by Marcelinho.
Josu Currais - 4.5/10
The Spaniard was not able to do anything from the left-back position. Josu had to face a very tough time against Marcelinho. There is nothing much an attacking midfielder like him can do against a player like Marcelinho.
Mehtab Hossain - 4/10
Hossain did not play up to his standards on the night. He gave away the ball cheaply and also gave some free-kicks away after making poor tackles.
Azrack Mahamat - 6/10
Mahamat probably must be the most underrated Blasters player this season. The 28-year-old ensured that things were not too easy for Malouda and Milan. There was nothing much he could contribute to the team's attack.
Ishfaq Ahmed - 4/10
Ishfaq started instead of Mohammed Rafique and was a waste in midfield. The 33-year-old was expected to contribute both to the team's attack and defence, but he didn't do both. The midfielder had a nightmare against Souvik and Lewis.
Boris Kadio - 5/10
Two of Kerala's best attempts came from Kadio. The 26-year-old's header was saved by Doblas and his long range effort went just wide of the post. Defensively he did not contribute much.
Mohammed Rafi - 4/10
Rafi was too easy for the Delhi defence to handle. He couldn't even properly get past a defender on the night. The Blasters manager Coppell might need to turn to Thonghosiem Haokip, if he is to find a solution for his team's goalscoring woes.
Kervens Belfort - 5/10
Belfort tried causing trouble to the opposition defenders using his dribbling and physicality but it didn't work out well for him. The Haitian forward still lacks in the final third.
Substitutes
Pratik Chowdhary - 5/10
Pratik came in for Ndoye and occupied the right-back position. Like the rest of the Kerala team, he also struggled against the strong opposition. There was nothing much he could do.
Duckens Nazon - 5/10
Nazon was brought in by Coppell with the hope of getting back into the game, but it didn't work out. There was nothing much the Haitian could do to help his team score a goal.
Antonio German - 5/10
Like Nazon, German was also brought into the game with the hope of scoring a goal and getting back into the game. The 24-year-old tried taking a shot on goal, but his strike was too weak that it could hardly be called a shot on target.
